The Worship of the Moon

Verse 1 (padma.1.80.1)

वैशंपायन उवाच । श्रुतो ग्रहेश्वरस्यैष प्रभावस्त्वत्प्रसादतः । रव्यादीनां ग्रहाणां च साधनं नो वद द्विज

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca | śruto graheśvarasyaiṣa prabhāvastvatprasādataḥ | ravyādīnāṁ grahāṇāṁ ca sādhanaṁ no vada dvija

Vaishampayana said: By your grace, this power of the Lord of Planets has been heard by me; now tell us, O Brahmin, the method of propitiating Surya and the other planets.

Verse 2 (padma.1.80.2)

के ते रव्यादयस्तेषां कथं तोषः कथं प्रियम् । काले देशे तु संप्राप्ते दर्शनं तच्छिवाशिवम्

ke te ravyādayasteṣāṁ kathaṁ toṣaḥ kathaṁ priyam | kāle deśe tu saṁprāpte darśanaṁ tacchivāśivam

Who are these, Surya and the rest? How is their satisfaction obtained, what pleases them? And when time and place align, how does their sight bring fortune or misfortune?

Verse 3 (padma.1.80.3)

व्यास उवाच । ग्रहादयो ये लोके तु भुंजंति पुण्यपातकम् । शिवाशिवं च कुर्वंति विश्वकर्मक्षयाय वै

vyāsa uvāca | grahādayo ye loke tu bhuṁjaṁti puṇyapātakam | śivāśivaṁ ca kurvaṁti viśvakarmakṣayāya vai

Vyasa said: The planets and the rest in this world dispense the fruits of merit and sin; they bring about both fortune and misfortune, for the working out of all deeds.

Verse 4 (padma.1.80.4)

सूरः कालोंतको ज्ञेयो जनेषु च ग्रहेषु च । तिग्मसौम्याच्च योगात्स निग्रहानुग्रहे प्रभुः

sūraḥ kāloṁtako jñeyo janeṣu ca graheṣu ca | tigmasaumyācca yogātsa nigrahānugrahe prabhuḥ

Surya is to be known as Time itself, the ender, both among men and among the planets; through his fierce and gentle aspects, he is lord of both restraint and grace.

Verse 5 (padma.1.80.5)

ग्रहभावाच्च तस्यैव संतोषं निगदाम्यहम् । उदुम्बरपलाशाभ्यां पल्लवाभ्यां जुहोति यः

grahabhāvācca tasyaiva saṁtoṣaṁ nigadāmyaham | udumbarapalāśābhyāṁ pallavābhyāṁ juhoti yaḥ

I shall now tell of the means to satisfy him in his planetary nature. Whoever offers oblation with sprigs of udumbara and palasha—

Verse 6 (padma.1.80.6)

आकृष्णेनेति मंत्रेण मूलकेनाथ शांतये । जुहुयादाज्ययुक्ताभ्यामभीष्टफलहेतवे

ākṛṣṇeneti maṁtreṇa mūlakenātha śāṁtaye | juhuyādājyayuktābhyāmabhīṣṭaphalahetave

—with the mantra beginning 'Akrishnena,' and with radish, for peace, oblations mixed with ghee should be made for the desired fruit.

Verse 7 (padma.1.80.7)

शांतये सर्वरोगाणां वधबंधविमोचने । एकैकेन तु मंत्रेण होतव्यं च शतंशतम्

śāṁtaye sarvarogāṇāṁ vadhabaṁdhavimocane | ekaikena tu maṁtreṇa hotavyaṁ ca śataṁśatam

For the pacifying of all diseases and release from death and bondage, with each mantra a hundred oblations should be offered.

Verse 8 (padma.1.80.8)

शितं चच्छागलं दद्यात्सूरायादित्यवासरे । भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्शक्त्या हव्यकव्यैर्मनोहरैः

śitaṁ cacchāgalaṁ dadyātsūrāyādityavāsare | bhojayedbrāhmaṇānśaktyā havyakavyairmanoharaiḥ

One should give a white goat to Surya on Sunday; and, according to one's means, feed Brahmins with lovely sacrificial and ancestral offerings.

Verse 9 (padma.1.80.9)

सप्तम्यां च सिते पक्षे पंचदश्यां तथैव च । रोगाद्विमुच्यते रोगी न रोगात्कृच्छ्रमेष्यति

saptamyāṁ ca site pakṣe paṁcadaśyāṁ tathaiva ca | rogādvimucyate rogī na rogātkṛcchrameṣyati

On the seventh day of the bright fortnight, and on the fifteenth, one who is ill is freed from disease, and will not fall into it again.

Verse 10 (padma.1.80.10)

परमं चामरं सत्वमाब्रह्मस्तंबमात्रके । ब्रह्मांडे चाणुमात्रे च सूरः संभावयिष्यते

paramaṁ cāmaraṁ satvamābrahmastaṁbamātrake | brahmāṁḍe cāṇumātre ca sūraḥ saṁbhāvayiṣyate

His supreme, imperishable being extends from Brahma down to a mere blade of grass; Surya is to be recognized in the cosmic egg down to the smallest atom.

Verse 11 (padma.1.80.11)

संहारांतं क्रमात्सर्वमुत्पत्तिस्थितिकारणात् । प्राणसर्गे जनानां स पाता विश्वचरस्तनौ

saṁhārāṁtaṁ kramātsarvamutpattisthitikāraṇāt | prāṇasarge janānāṁ sa pātā viśvacarastanau

From creation to dissolution, as the cause of origin and preservation, in the generation of life-breath he is the protector, moving through the universe, present within the body.

Verse 12 (padma.1.80.12)

मृत्युकाले तनोर्मध्यात्प्राणेन सह गच्छति । शीर्षान्तस्थः सदा चंद्रो द्विरष्टकलया युतः

mṛtyukāle tanormadhyātprāṇena saha gacchati | śīrṣāntasthaḥ sadā caṁdro dviraṣṭakalayā yutaḥ

At the time of death, he departs from the middle of the body with the life-breath. The Moon, ever at the crown of the head, endowed with sixteen digits—

Verse 13 (padma.1.80.13)

अहर्निशं सुधावृष्टिं देहे वर्षत्यधोमुखः । जंतवस्तेन जीवंति महासत्वानुमात्रकाः

aharniśaṁ sudhāvṛṣṭiṁ dehe varṣatyadhomukhaḥ | jaṁtavastena jīvaṁti mahāsatvānumātrakāḥ

—rains down, face downward, a shower of nectar upon the body, day and night; by this, creatures live, from the mightiest down to the smallest.

Verse 14 (padma.1.80.14)

उर्व्यां सस्यानि पुष्णाति तथा स्थावरजंगमान् । एताभ्यां पुष्पवद्भ्यां च धारितं जनितं जगत्

urvyāṁ sasyāni puṣṇāti tathā sthāvarajaṁgamān | etābhyāṁ puṣpavadbhyāṁ ca dhāritaṁ janitaṁ jagat

He nourishes the crops upon the earth, and all that is fixed and moving; by these two, flowering with their light, this world is sustained and brought into being.

Verse 15 (padma.1.80.15)

तयोराराधनात्पुष्टिः सदा पुण्यापरार्धिका । साधयेत्सर्वकार्याणि साधकः सर्वदा शुचिः

tayorārādhanātpuṣṭiḥ sadā puṇyāparārdhikā | sādhayetsarvakāryāṇi sādhakaḥ sarvadā śuciḥ

By the worship of these two, nourishment and boundless merit are ever obtained; the ever-pure practitioner accomplishes all his undertakings.

Verse 16 (padma.1.80.16)

न पूजयति यो मोहात्सुधांशुं मानवाधमः । आयुस्तस्य क्षयं याति नरकं चाधिगच्छति

na pūjayati yo mohātsudhāṁśuṁ mānavādhamaḥ | āyustasya kṣayaṁ yāti narakaṁ cādhigacchati

Whatever base man, through delusion, fails to worship the nectar-rayed Moon — his life declines, and he goes to hell.

Verse 17 (padma.1.80.17)

निष्कलंक कलाधार गंगाधर शिरोमणे । द्वितीयायां जगन्नाथ तुभ्यं चंद्र नमोस्तु ते

niṣkalaṁka kalādhāra gaṁgādhara śiromaṇe | dvitīyāyāṁ jagannātha tubhyaṁ caṁdra namostu te

'O spotless one, bearer of the digits, crest-jewel of Gangadhara, lord of the universe — on this second day, O Moon, homage to you!'

Verse 18 (padma.1.80.18)

तिथिमन्यामनुप्राप्य नमस्कारं विधोरपि । प्रकरोति नरो यस्तु सोभीष्टं फलमाप्नुयात्

tithimanyāmanuprāpya namaskāraṁ vidhorapi | prakaroti naro yastu sobhīṣṭaṁ phalamāpnuyāt

Whatever man, on reaching any other tithi too, performs this homage to the Moon, obtains his desired fruit.

Verse 19 (padma.1.80.19)

अत्रिनेत्रोद्भव श्रीमन्क्षीरोद मथनोद्भव । महेशमुकटावास तुभ्यं चंद्र नमोस्तुते

atrinetrodbhava śrīmankṣīroda mathanodbhava | maheśamukaṭāvāsa tubhyaṁ caṁdra namostute

'O you who arose from Atri's eye, glorious one, born from the churning of the milk-ocean, dwelling upon Mahesha's crown — homage to you, O Moon!'

Verse 20 (padma.1.80.20)

दिव्यरूप नमस्तुभ्यं सुधाकर जगत्पते । शुक्लपक्षे तथा कृष्णे त्रियामायां विदुर्बुधाः

divyarūpa namastubhyaṁ sudhākara jagatpate | śuklapakṣe tathā kṛṣṇe triyāmāyāṁ vidurbudhāḥ

'O divine form, homage to you, maker of nectar, lord of the world!' — in the bright and dark fortnights, at the last watch of night, the wise know this to be recited.

Verse 21 (padma.1.80.21)

ऊँ ह्रां ह्रीं सोमाय नमः इति जप्यमंत्रः । प्रभाते जपनीयः । एवं यः पूजयेत्सोमं श्रावयेच्च शृणोति वा । स पीयूषसमो लोके भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि

ū~ hrāṁ hrīṁ somāya namaḥ iti japyamaṁtraḥ | prabhāte japanīyaḥ | evaṁ yaḥ pūjayetsomaṁ śrāvayecca śṛṇoti vā | sa pīyūṣasamo loke bhavejjanmani janmani

'Om, Hraam, Hreem, homage to Soma' — this is the mantra, to be recited at dawn. Whoever worships Soma, causes this to be heard, or hears it, becomes, birth after birth, like nectar itself.

Verse 22 (padma.1.80.22)

एवं सहस्रनाम्ना यः स्तौति पूजयते भुवि । सोऽक्षयं लभते स्वर्गं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्

evaṁ sahasranāmnā yaḥ stauti pūjayate bhuvi | so'kṣayaṁ labhate svargaṁ punarāvṛttidurlabham

Whoever, in this way, praises and worships him with his thousand names upon this earth, attains imperishable heaven, from which return is difficult indeed.

Verse 23 (padma.1.80.23)

इति सोमपूजा । पित्तले भाजने कांस्ये दधिपूर्णे घृते शिवे । न्यूनोऽधिकस्तु विभवाच्छ्रुत्वा कर्मविमत्सरः

iti somapūjā | pittale bhājane kāṁsye dadhipūrṇe ghṛte śive | nyūno'dhikastu vibhavācchrutvā karmavimatsaraḥ

Thus is the worship of Soma. In a bronze vessel filled with curds and ghee, propitiously — less or more, according to means, listening without envy—

Verse 24 (padma.1.80.24)

स्वर्णे वा राजते वारे सौम्ये कृष्णभवे बुधम् । संस्थाप्य सर्वसंस्थाने दद्याद्बहुसुताय च

svarṇe vā rājate vāre saumye kṛṣṇabhave budham | saṁsthāpya sarvasaṁsthāne dadyādbahusutāya ca

—establishing Budha in gold or silver, on a Wednesday, in every proper setting, and giving it to a Brahmin blessed with many sons—

Verse 25 (padma.1.80.25)

परं भवति सौभाग्यं पीयूषादधिकं भृशम् । स्त्रीणां च पुरुषाणां च न दौर्भाग्यं कदाचन

paraṁ bhavati saubhāgyaṁ pīyūṣādadhikaṁ bhṛśam | strīṇāṁ ca puruṣāṇāṁ ca na daurbhāgyaṁ kadācana

—one obtains supreme good fortune, far exceeding even nectar; and misfortune never befalls either women or men.

Verse 26 (padma.1.80.26)

रूपसौभाग्यकामोहं दधिपूर्णं च भाजनम् । ददामि कांस्यपात्रस्थं देहि सौभाग्यरूपकम्

rūpasaubhāgyakāmohaṁ dadhipūrṇaṁ ca bhājanam | dadāmi kāṁsyapātrasthaṁ dehi saubhāgyarūpakam

'Desiring beauty and good fortune, I offer this bronze vessel filled with curds — grant me beauty and good fortune!'

Verse 27 (padma.1.80.27)

द्विजाय वाक्यपूर्वेण दद्याद्विमत्सरो नरः । शक्तितो दक्षिणा देया तथा वस्त्रादिकं नवम्

dvijāya vākyapūrveṇa dadyādvimatsaro naraḥ | śaktito dakṣiṇā deyā tathā vastrādikaṁ navam

A man, free of envy, should give this to a Brahmin with these words spoken first; a fee should be given according to means, with new clothing.

Verse 28 (padma.1.80.28)

भोज्यान्नं सर्वसम्पूर्णं तांबूलं सुमनोहरम् । पुष्पमालादिकं दद्याद्रूपसौभाग्यहेतवे

bhojyānnaṁ sarvasampūrṇaṁ tāṁbūlaṁ sumanoharam | puṣpamālādikaṁ dadyādrūpasaubhāgyahetave

He should give a complete meal, lovely betel-leaf, and garlands of flowers, for the sake of beauty and good fortune.

Verse 29 (padma.1.80.29)

एवं यः कुरुते दानं सोमोद्दिष्टं द्विजातये । स्वर्लोके नरलोके वा रूपसौभाग्यभुग्भवेत्

evaṁ yaḥ kurute dānaṁ somoddiṣṭaṁ dvijātaye | svarloke naraloke vā rūpasaubhāgyabhugbhavet

Whoever, in this way, gives this gift prescribed for Soma to a Brahmin, becomes, whether in heaven or the world of men, one who enjoys beauty and good fortune.