Adhyaya 37

Verse 1

षट्त्रिंशो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / गायत्त्री परमा देवी भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा च ताम् / यो जपेत्तस्य पापानिविनश्यन्ति महान्त्यपि

Hari said: “Gāyatrī is the supreme Goddess, bestower of both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and mukti (liberation). For one who repeats her in japa, even great sins are destroyed.”

Verse 2

गायत्त्रीकल्पमाख्यास्ये भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं च तत् / अष्टोत्तरं सहस्रं वा अथवाष्टशतं जपेत्

I shall explain the kalpa, the prescribed procedure of Gāyatrī that bestows both bhukti and mukti. One should repeat it in japa either 1,008 times, or else 108 times.

Verse 3

त्रिसन्ध्यं ब्रह्मलोकीस्याच्छतं जप्त्वा जलं पिबेत् / संध्यायां सर्वपापघ्नीं देवीमावाह्य पूजयेत्

At the three junctions of the day—dawn, noon, and dusk—one should perform Sandhyā worship and become fit for the world of Brahmā; having recited the sacred formula a hundred times, one should sip purifying water (ācamana). At Sandhyā time, invoking the Goddess who destroys all sins, one should worship and honor her.

Verse 4

भूर्भुवः स्वः स्वमन्त्रेण युतां द्वादशनामभिः / गायत्र्यै नमः / सावित्र्यै सरस्वत्यै नमोनमः

With her own mantra—“Bhūr, Bhuvaḥ, Svaḥ”—together with the twelve names: obeisance to Gāyatrī; obeisance again and again to Sāvitrī and to Sarasvatī.

Verse 5

वेदमात्रे च सांकृत्यै ब्रह्माणी कौशिकी क्रमात् / साध्व्यै सर्वार्थसाधिन्यै सहस्राक्ष्यै च भूर्भुवः

In due order one should offer salutations to Vedamātṛ, to Sāṃkṛtyā, to Brahmāṇī, and to Kauśikī; to the Virtuous One, to her who accomplishes all aims, and to the Thousand‑eyed One—the protectress of Bhūr and Bhuvaḥ.

Verse 6

स्वरेवं जुहुया दग्नौ समिदाज्यं हविष्यकम् / अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं वाप्यथवाष्टशन्त घृतम्

In the same prescribed manner, one should offer into the fire of Agni the oblation (havis) of fuel‑sticks (samidh) and ghee (ghṛta). The offering should be made either 1,008 times, or else as 800 offerings of ghee.

Verse 7

धर्मकामादिसिद्ध्यर्थं जुहुयात्सर्वकर्मसु / प्रतिमां चन्दनस्वर्णनिर्मितां प्रतिपूज्य च

For the attainment of dharma, kāma, and other aims, one should perform fire‑oblations (homa) in all rites; and, having duly worshipped, one should also venerate a sacred image (pratimā) fashioned of sandalwood or of gold.

Verse 8

यथा लक्षं तु जप्तव्यं पयोमूलफलार्शनैः / अयुतद्वयहोमेन सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात्

In the prescribed manner, one should complete a lakh (100,000) japa, sustaining oneself on milk, roots, and fruits; and by performing a fire-offering (homa) of twenty thousand oblations, one attains the fulfillment of all desired aims.

Verse 9

उत्तरे शिखरे जाता भूम्यां पर्वत वासिनी / ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता गच्छ देवि यथासुखम्

Born upon the northern peak, dwelling on the earth as a mountain-resident—having been duly permitted by Brahmā, go forth, O Goddess, as you please, in ease and well-being.