The Completion Rite of the Shivaratri Vow

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.39.1)

ऋषय उचुः । उद्यापनविधिं ब्रूहि शिवरात्रिव्रतस्य च । यत्कृत्वा शङ्करः साक्षात्प्रसन्नो भवति ध्रुवम् ॥ 39.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ucuḥ udyāpanavidhiṁ brūhi śivarātrivratasya ca yatkṛtvā śaṅkaraḥ sākṣātprasanno bhavati dhruvam

The sages said: "Tell us the completion-rite of the Shivaratri vow, by performing which Shankara surely becomes directly pleased."

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.39.2)

सूत उवाच । श्रूयतामृषयो भक्त्या तदुद्यापनमादरात् । यस्यानुष्ठानतः पूर्णं व्रतं भवति तद् ध्रुवम् ॥ 39.2 ॥

sūta uvāca śrūyatāmṛṣayo bhaktyā tadudyāpanamādarāt yasyānuṣṭhānataḥ pūrṇaṁ vrataṁ bhavati tad dhruvam

Suta said: "Listen, O sages, with devotion and reverence, to that completion-rite, by whose performance the vow surely becomes complete."

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.39.3)

चतुर्दशाब्दं कर्तव्यं शिवरात्रिव्रतं शुभम् । एकभक्तं त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यामुपोषणम् ॥ 39.3 ॥

caturdaśābdaṁ kartavyaṁ śivarātrivrataṁ śubham ekabhaktaṁ trayodaśyāṁ caturdaśyāmupoṣaṇam

"This auspicious Shivaratri vow should be performed for fourteen years: a single meal on the thirteenth day, and complete fasting on the fourteenth."

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.39.4)

शिवरात्रिदिने प्राप्ते नित्यं सम्पाद्य वै विधिम् । शिवालयं ततो गत्वा पूजां कृत्वा यथाविधि ॥ 39.4 ॥

śivarātridine prāpte nityaṁ sampādya vai vidhim śivālayaṁ tato gatvā pūjāṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhi

"When the day of Shivaratri arrives, having performed the daily rites, one should go to a Shiva shrine and worship according to due rite."

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.39.5)

ततश्च कारयेद्दिव्यं मण्डलं तत्र यत्नतः । गौरीतिलकनाम्ना वै प्रसिद्धं भुवनत्रये ॥ 39.5 ॥

tataśca kārayeddivyaṁ maṇḍalaṁ tatra yatnataḥ gaurītilakanāmnā vai prasiddhaṁ bhuvanatraye

"Then one should carefully have a divine mandala made there, renowned throughout the three worlds under the name Gauri-tilaka."

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.39.6)

तन्मध्ये लेखयेद्दिव्यं लिङ्गतोभद्रमण्डलम् । अथवा सर्वतोभद्रं मण्डपान्तः प्रकल्पयेत् ॥ 39.6 ॥

tanmadhye lekhayeddivyaṁ liṅgatobhadramaṇḍalam athavā sarvatobhadraṁ maṇḍapāntaḥ prakalpayet

"In its middle one should draw the divine Lingatobhadra mandala, or else prepare the Sarvatobhadra mandala within the pavilion."

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.39.7)

कुम्भास्तत्र प्रकर्तव्याः प्राजापत्यविसंज्ञया । सवस्त्राः सफलास्तत्र दक्षिणासहिताः शुभाः ॥ 39.7 ॥

kumbhāstatra prakartavyāḥ prājāpatyavisaṁjñayā savastrāḥ saphalāstatra dakṣiṇāsahitāḥ śubhāḥ

"There, auspicious water-pots known by the Prajapatya designation should be prepared, clothed, together with fruits, and accompanied by their fee."

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.39.8)

मण्डलस्य च पार्श्वे वै स्थापनीयाः प्रयत्नतः । मध्ये चैकश्च संस्थाप्यः सौवर्णो वापरो घटः ॥ 39.8 ॥

maṇḍalasya ca pārśve vai sthāpanīyāḥ prayatnataḥ madhye caikaśca saṁsthāpyaḥ sauvarṇo vāparo ghaṭaḥ

"They should carefully be placed at the sides of the mandala; and in the middle a single golden pot — or an alternative one — should be established."

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.39.9)

तत्रोमासहितां शम्भुमूर्तिं निर्माय हाटकीम् । पलेन वा तदर्धेन यथाशक्त्याथवा व्रती ॥ 39.9 ॥

tatromāsahitāṁ śambhumūrtiṁ nirmāya hāṭakīm palena vā tadardhena yathāśaktyāthavā vratī

"There the votary should fashion a golden image of Shambhu together with Uma, weighing a pala, or half of that, or according to his own means."

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.39.10)

निधाय वामभागे तु शिवामूर्तिमतन्द्रितः । मदीयां दक्षिणे भागे कृत्वा रात्रौ प्रपूजयेत् ॥ 39.10 ॥

nidhāya vāmabhāge tu śivāmūrtimatandritaḥ madīyāṁ dakṣiṇe bhāge kṛtvā rātrau prapūjayet

"Placing the image of Shiva [Parvati] on the left side without laziness, and my own image on the right side, he should worship them at night."

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.39.11)

आचार्यं वरयेत्तत्र चर्त्विग्भिः सहितं शुचिम् । अनुज्ञातश्च तैर्भक्त्या शिवपूजां समाचरेत् ॥ 39.11 ॥

ācāryaṁ varayettatra cartvigbhiḥ sahitaṁ śucim anujñātaśca tairbhaktyā śivapūjāṁ samācaret

"There he should engage a pure preceptor, together with priests; and, granted leave by them, he should perform the worship of Shiva with devotion."

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.39.12)

रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यात्पूजां यामोद्भवां चरन् । रात्रिमाक्रमयेत्सर्वां गीतनृत्यादिना व्रती ॥ 39.12 ॥

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryātpūjāṁ yāmodbhavāṁ caran rātrimākramayetsarvāṁ gītanṛtyādinā vratī

"He should keep a night-vigil, performing the worship that arises watch by watch; the votary should pass through the entire night with song, dance, and the like."

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.39.13)

एवं सम्पूज्य विधिवत्सन्तोष्य प्रातरेव च । पुनः पूजां ततः कृत्वा होमं कुर्याद्यथाविधि ॥ 39.13 ॥

evaṁ sampūjya vidhivatsantoṣya prātareva ca punaḥ pūjāṁ tataḥ kṛtvā homaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi

"Having thus worshipped duly and given full satisfaction, then in the morning, having performed the worship once more, he should perform the fire-offering according to rule."

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.39.14)

यथाशक्ति विधानं च प्राजापत्यं समाचरेत् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्प्रीत्या दद्याद्दानानि भक्तितः ॥ 39.14 ॥

yathāśakti vidhānaṁ ca prājāpatyaṁ samācaret brāhmaṇānbhojayetprītyā dadyāddānāni bhaktitaḥ

"He should perform the Prajapatya rite according to his means; he should feed brahmins with love, and give gifts with devotion."

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.39.15)

ऋत्विजश्च सपत्नीकान्वस्त्रालङ्कारभूषणैः । अलङ्कृत्य विधानेन दद्याद्दानं पृथक्पृथक् ॥ 39.15 ॥

ṛtvijaśca sapatnīkānvastrālaṅkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ alaṅkṛtya vidhānena dadyāddānaṁ pṛthakpṛthak

"He should adorn the officiating priests, together with their wives, with garments, ornaments and jewelry, and, according to procedure, give gifts to each separately."

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.39.16)

गां सवत्सां विधानेन यथोपस्करसंयुताम् । उक्त्वाचार्याय वै दद्याच्छिवो मे प्रीयतामिति ॥ 39.16 ॥

gāṁ savatsāṁ vidhānena yathopaskarasaṁyutām uktvācāryāya vai dadyācchivo me prīyatāmiti

"Saying 'May Shiva be pleased with me,' he should duly give to the preceptor a cow with her calf, furnished with its proper equipment."

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.39.17)

ततः सकुम्भां तन्मूर्तिं सवस्त्रां वृषभे स्थिताम् । सर्वालङ्कारसहितामाचार्याय निवेदयेत् ॥ 39.17 ॥

tataḥ sakumbhāṁ tanmūrtiṁ savastrāṁ vṛṣabhe sthitām sarvālaṅkārasahitāmācāryāya nivedayet

"Then he should present to the preceptor that image, together with its water-pot, clothed, seated upon a bull, and adorned with every ornament."

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.39.18)

ततः सम्प्रार्थयेद्देवं महेशानं महाप्रभुम् । कृताञ्जलिर्नतस्कन्धः सुप्रीत्या गद्गदाक्षरः ॥ 39.18 ॥

tataḥ samprārthayeddevaṁ maheśānaṁ mahāprabhum kṛtāñjalirnataskandhaḥ suprītyā gadgadākṣaraḥ

"Then, with joined palms, bowed head, deep affection, and a voice choked with emotion, he should pray to the great Lord Maheshana."

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.39.19)

देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । व्रतेनानेन देवेश कृपां कुरु ममोपरि ॥ 39.19 ॥

devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala vratenānena deveśa kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari

The prayer: "O god of gods, Mahadeva, tender to those who take refuge in you! O lord of the gods, through this vow, show your compassion upon me."

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.39.20)

मया भक्त्यनुसारेण व्रतमेतत्कृतं शिव । न्यूनं सम्पूर्णतां यातु प्रसादात्तव शङ्कर ॥ 39.20 ॥

mayā bhaktyanusāreṇa vratametatkṛtaṁ śiva nyūnaṁ sampūrṇatāṁ yātu prasādāttava śaṅkara

"O Shiva, this vow has been performed by me according to my devotion; O Shankara, whatever is lacking in it, let it be made complete through your grace."

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.39.21)

अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानाज्जपपूजादिकं मया । कृतं तदस्तु कृपया सफलं तव शङ्कर ॥ 39.21 ॥

ajñānādyadi vā jñānājjapapūjādikaṁ mayā kṛtaṁ tadastu kṛpayā saphalaṁ tava śaṅkara

"Whether out of ignorance or knowledge, whatever recitation and worship I have performed, O Shankara, let it become fruitful through your compassion."

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.39.22)

एवं पुष्पाञ्जलिं दत्त्वा शिवाय परमात्मने । नमस्कारं ततः कुर्यात्प्रार्थनां पुनरेव च ॥ 39.22 ॥

evaṁ puṣpāñjaliṁ dattvā śivāya paramātmane namaskāraṁ tataḥ kuryātprārthanāṁ punareva ca

"Having thus offered the handful of flowers to Shiva, the Supreme Self, he should then bow, and offer his prayer once again."

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.39.23)

एवं व्रतं कृतं येन न्यूनं तस्य न विद्यते । मनोभीष्टां ततः सिद्धिं लभते नात्र संशयः ॥ 39.23 ॥

evaṁ vrataṁ kṛtaṁ yena nyūnaṁ tasya na vidyate manobhīṣṭāṁ tataḥ siddhiṁ labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"For whoever has thus performed the vow, nothing remains lacking in it; he thereafter attains the success his heart desires — of this there is no doubt."