Passage 1
श्रीराम उवाच— उपचारैर्बहुविधैर्मां यजेत विधानतः। एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं वा विशेषतः॥१॥
Śrī Rāma said: One should worship me according to rule with many kinds of offerings, once, twice, or especially three times each day.
Passage 2
प्रातर्गुरुपदं ध्यात्वा ध्यात्वा हृत्कमले च माम्। देहकृत्यं विनिर्वर्त्य मन्त्रस्नानं समाचरेत्॥२॥
At dawn one should meditate upon the guru's feet and upon me within the lotus of the heart. Having completed the body's necessary functions, one should perform the mantra-bath.
Passage 3
गृहीत्वा मूलमन्त्रेण मुदमस्त्राभिमन्त्रिताम्। विशोध्य शिखया गात्रं मूलेनैव विसर्जयेत्॥३॥
One should take water consecrated by the root-mantra and the weapon-mantra, purify the body with the śikhā-mantra, and dismiss the rite with the root-mantra itself.
Passage 4
सम्मुखीकरणं कृत्वा प्राणरोधनपूर्वकम्। नाभिदघ्ने जले स्थित्वा प्राणायामं विधाय च॥४॥
Having brought the deity directly before oneself and first restrained the breath, one should stand in water reaching the navel and perform prāṇāyāma.
Passage 5
षडङ्गं परिकल्प्याङ्गे चक्राकारं जलं स्मरेत्। उपकल्प्य जले तीर्थं सूर्याद्यावाहयेत् सुधीः॥५॥
Having installed the six limbs upon the body, the wise practitioner should visualize the water in the form of a discus, establish the sacred waters within it, and invoke the sun and other deities.
Passage 6
अङ्कुशेन च सम्भिद्य एकीकुर्याज्जलेन च। तत्र मत्पादसलिलं बुद्ध्वा मज्जेत् पुनः पुनः॥६॥
Piercing through with the aṅkuśa gesture, one should unite it with the water. Recognizing it as water from my feet, one should immerse oneself again and again.
Passage 7
देवं संतर्प्य निमज्ज्य स्कन्धे वक्षसि मूर्धनि। धौताम्बरे परीधाय संध्यातर्पणमाचरेत्॥७॥
Having satisfied the deity and immersed the shoulders, chest, and head, one should put on washed garments and perform the twilight libation.
Passage 8
गृहीत्वा देवसलिलं यागभूमिमथाविशेत्। धौताङ्घ्रिपाणिराचम्य सामान्यार्घ्यं विधाय च॥८॥
Taking the deity's water, one should enter the place of worship, wash feet and hands, sip water, and prepare the general offering of welcome.
Passage 9
गन्धपुष्पोदकैः सर्वाः पूजयेद्द्वारदेवताः। सिंहासनं समापूज्य पात्राणि स्थापयेत्सुधीः॥९॥
With scented water and flowers one should worship all the guardian deities of the doorway. Having worshiped the throne, the wise devotee should arrange the vessels.
Passage 10
पाद्यार्थ्याचमनादीनि नैवेद्यान्तानि च क्रमात्। देवमावाह्य विधिवत् पूजयेत् सुसमाहितः॥१०॥
After invoking the deity, one should worship with full concentration and in proper order, beginning with water for the feet, welcome, and sipping, and continuing through the food offering.
Passage 11
आवाहनं स्थापनं च संनिधापनमेव च। संनिरोधनमप्युक्तं सकलीकरणं तथा॥११॥
The stages are invocation, installation, bringing the presence near, enclosing the presence, and integrating the whole form.
Passage 12
अवगुण्ठनमप्युक्तममृतीकरणं तथा। आप्यायनं च परमीकरणं जलबिन्दुभिः॥१२॥
They also include veiling, making immortal, nourishing, and raising to the supreme state with drops of water.
Passage 13
गन्धं पुष्पं तथा धूपं नैवेद्यारातिके तथा। आचमनं ततो दत्त्वा वैजयन्तीं समर्पयेत्॥१३॥
One should offer fragrance, flowers, incense, food, lamp ceremony, and then water for sipping, after which one should present a Vaijayantī garland.
Passage 14
तुलस्याः सुदलैर्माला पञ्चवर्णप्रसूनकैः। ग्रथिता पादपद्मान्ता वैजयन्ती निगद्यते॥१४॥
A garland woven from fine Tulasī leaves and flowers of five colors, reaching down to the lotus feet, is called Vaijayantī.
Passage 15
भूषयेच्चैव भूषाभिर्मूर्तिप्रतिकृतौ पुनः। शालग्रामशिलायां मे पूजनं नित्यमुत्तमम्॥१५॥
One should adorn the represented image with ornaments. Daily worship of me in the Śālagrāma stone is excellent.
Passage 16
ततोऽप्युत्तमकं यन्त्रे परिवारगणान्विते। यन्त्रादप्युत्तमं मूर्तौ स्थापितायां विधानतः॥१६॥
Better still is worship in a yantra accompanied by the full divine retinue, and better than the yantra is worship in an image duly installed according to rule.
Passage 17
अचलायां महामूर्तौ तत्राप्युत्तमपक्षता। रङ्गनाथे वेङ्कटे च श्रीमद्विठ्ठलवल्लभे॥१७॥
Higher still is the great, immovable temple image, such as Raṅganātha, the Lord of Veṅkaṭa, and glorious Viṭṭhalavallabha.
Passage 18
जगन्नाथे बदर्यां च दिव्यपूजाफलं भवेत्। अन्यासु चापि दिव्यासु प्रतिमासु विशेषतः॥१८॥
At Jagannātha and Badarī, and especially in other divine images as well, worship yields a celestial fruit.
Passage 19
काले काले यजेद्भूरिसंविदाभिरुदारधीः। वसन्ते पूजयेन्नित्यं पुष्पैर्दमनकोद्भवैः॥१९॥
At each appropriate season, the noble-minded devotee should worship with abundant and thoughtful arrangements. In spring one should worship daily with damanaka flowers.
Passage 20
रसालपल्लवैर्लग्नमञ्जरीकैः प्रपूजयेत्। चम्पकैर्बकुलैश्चापि माधुरीलतिकोद्भवैः॥२०॥
One should worship with mango shoots bearing attached flower clusters, with campaka and bakula blossoms, and with flowers arising from the sweet-scented vine.
Passage 21
अन्यैश्च विविधैः पुष्पैः कुसुमाकरसम्भवैः। अतिमुक्तैर्मल्लिपुष्पैर्ह्रस्वशाखासिकोद्भवैः॥२१॥
One should also use the many other flowers produced by spring: atimukta, jasmine, and blossoms arising from short-branched plants.
Passage 22
ग्रीष्मे चन्दनलेपैश्च तथैव व्यजनानिलैः। शीतोदकैश्च नैवेद्यैरेलाकर्पूरगन्धिभिः॥२२॥
In summer one should serve with sandal paste, the breeze of fans, cool water, and food offerings scented with cardamom and camphor.
Passage 23
वैशाखस्य सिते पक्षे तृतीया या भवेद्दिवा। तस्यां चन्दनयात्रायां चन्दनैर्मां विलेपयेत्॥२३॥
On the third lunar day in the bright half of Vaiśākha, during the sandal festival, one should anoint me with sandal paste.
Passage 24
चैत्रे च दोलयेद्धरिं दक्षिणाभिमुखं हि माम्। तं ये पश्यन्ति मनुजास्तेषां न पुनरुद्भवः॥२४॥
In Caitra one should swing me, Hari, facing south. Human beings who behold me there are not born again.
Passage 25
रसालमञ्जरीपत्रपुष्पाच्छादितदोलके। आरूढं मां न पश्यन्ति किं ते धन्या नरा भुवि॥२५॥
How blessed are those people on earth who behold me mounted upon a swing covered with mango clusters, leaves, and flowers.
Passage 26
ज्येष्ठाभिषेकं कुर्वीत ज्येष्ठपूर्णादिने पुनः। सुवर्णघर्ममित्याद्यैर्यजुःपुरुषसूक्तकैः॥२६॥
On the full-moon day of Jyeṣṭha one should perform the Jyeṣṭha abhiṣeka with Yajurvedic and Puruṣa-sūkta passages beginning with “Suvarṇa-gharma.”
Passage 27
ब्राह्मणान् वैष्णवान् भक्तांश्चन्दनादिभिरर्चयेत्। ततो रथोत्सवः कार्यो रथारूढे हरौ मयि॥२७॥
One should honor brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇava devotees with sandal and other offerings. Then the chariot festival should be held with me, Hari, mounted on the chariot.
Passage 28
रथारूढं च ये भक्ताः पश्यन्ति श्रद्धया युताः। न तेषां जायते जन्म संसारे दुःखसागरे॥२८॥
Devotees who faithfully behold me upon the chariot are not born again in saṃsāra, the ocean of suffering.
Passage 29
ततः श्रावणके मासि नद्यां हिन्दोलयेच्च माम्। हरितावनिभागेषु निकुञ्जेषु च कालतः॥२९॥
Then, in the month of Śrāvaṇa, one should swing me beside a river, in green stretches of land and in bowers suited to the season.
Passage 30
हरितत्वं प्रयातेषु स्थापयेत् प्रियया सह। नीलापराजितापुष्पैः कदम्बकुसुमैस्तथा॥३०॥
When the surroundings have become green, one should install me there with my beloved and use blue aparājitā flowers and kadamba blossoms.
Passage 31
ग्रथितां कारयेन्मालां तां मह्यं विनिवेदयेत्। पवित्रारोपणं कुर्यान्मन्त्रविद्भिर्द्विजैः सह॥३१॥
One should have a garland woven from them and offer it to me, then perform the rite of pavitrāropaṇa with twice-born priests learned in mantra.
Passage 32
श्रावणस्य सिते पक्षे एकादश्यां शुभे दिने। रामं गुरुं च मूर्वीभिः पवित्राभिः प्रपूजयेत्॥३२॥
On the auspicious eleventh day of Śrāvaṇa's bright half, one should worship Rāma and the guru with sacred cords made from mūrvā fiber.
Passage 33
ब्राह्मणैः कारयेद्देवे रक्षाबन्धनकर्म च। जन्माष्टमीव्रतं कुर्यादुत्सवं च विशेषतः॥३३॥
One should have brāhmaṇas perform the rite of tying the protective thread for the deity and should observe the Janmāṣṭamī vow with a special festival.
Passage 34
कृष्णो ममांशतां जातो देवकीवसुदेवयोः। रामोऽहं रघुशार्दूलः श्रीमद्दशरथाङ्गजः॥३४॥
Kṛṣṇa was born to Devakī and Vasudeva as a portion of me. I am Rāma, tiger of the Raghus, the glorious son of Daśaratha.
Passage 35
प्रयातः सुखिताख्यस्य गोपराजस्य गोपतेः। रावणस्यैव दुर्द्धर्षवंशच्छेदनाय न संशयः॥३५॥
I went forth in relation to the cowherd king named Sukhita and, without doubt, to cut down the formidable lineage of Rāvaṇa.
Passage 36
अहं पूर्णं परब्रह्म सेवनीयो निरन्तरम्। भक्तैर्भवभयं घोरं तत्क्षणान्निस्तितीर्षुभिः॥३६॥
I am the complete supreme Brahman and should be served without interruption by devotees who wish to cross the terrible fear of worldly becoming in that very moment.
Passage 37
अनन्तस्य व्रतं चैव पूजनं च समाचरेत्। एतदावश्यकं कार्यमन्यैरपि मञ्जनैः॥३७॥
One should also perform the vow and worship of Ananta. This necessary observance should be completed together with the other prescribed anointing rites.
Passage 38
विजयां दशमीं प्राप्य कुर्यादुत्सवमुत्तमम्। मत्सम्बन्धाद्विशेषेण मम भक्तैः सुकोविदैः॥३८॥
Upon reaching Vijayadaśamī, my well-instructed devotees should hold an excellent festival because of its special relationship with me.
Passage 39
ततो बाहुलके मासि कर्तव्यं मम सेवनम्। दीपैश्च धूपगन्धाद्यैः सुगन्धाक्तैर्दिवानिशम्॥३९॥
Then, in the month of Bāhulaka, one should serve me day and night with lamps, incense, fragrance, and other sweet-scented offerings.
Passage 40
पीतवासकपुष्पैश्च दिव्यहारं प्रकल्पयेत्। भक्त्या निवेदयेन्मह्यं हेममालार्पणादिकम्॥४०॥
One should fashion a divine garland from yellow vāsaka flowers and devotedly offer it to me, together with a golden garland and other gifts.
Passage 41
हरिप्रबोधिनीं यावत्कुर्याद्दीपगणार्पणम्। दीपमालाविशेषेण पूरयेन्मम मन्दिरम्॥४१॥
Until Hari-prabodhinī Ekādaśī one should offer groups of lamps and fill my temple especially with rows of lights.
Passage 42
तुलसीसविधे चैव गवां गोष्ठे द्विजन्मनाम्। अन्नकूटोत्सवे चापि पूजयेन्मम गोकुलम्। सौगन्धाद्रिं च रत्नाद्रिमन्नकूटैः प्रपूरयेत्॥४२॥
One should worship near Tulasī, in the cows' enclosure, and among the twice-born. At the Annakūṭa festival one should worship my Gokula and fill Mount Saugandha and the jeweled mountain with mountains of food.
Passage 43
मदग्रतो गवां क्रीडा चान्नकूटं मदग्रतः। मदग्रतो दीपमाला हन्ति पापं त्रिजन्मजम्॥४३॥
The play of cows before me, an Annakūṭa before me, and rows of lamps before me destroy sin accumulated through three births.
Passage 44
पञ्चभीष्मव्रतं कुर्याद्यावत्पूर्णादिनावधि। कार्तिकादधिकं पुण्यं मार्गशीर्षे निरूपितम्॥४४॥
One should observe the Pañcabhīṣma vow through the full-moon day. Mārgaśīrṣa is declared to possess merit even greater than Kārttika.
Passage 45
यत्र मां गोपिकाः प्रापुर्वरत्वेनात्यभीप्सितम्। हेमन्ते प्रोज्ज्वलाङ्गारहसन्तीर्मम मन्दिरे॥४५॥
It is the season in which the cowherd maidens obtained me as the supremely desired bridegroom. In winter one should place brightly glowing, smiling coals in my temple—
Passage 46
स्थापयेद् दिव्यधूपेन धूपिताश्च सुगन्धिताः। तूलवस्त्रपरीधानं सेवयेन्मां श्रिया सह॥४६॥
—perfumed and made fragrant with divine incense, and serve me together with Śrī, clothed in warm cotton garments.
Passage 47
एवमात्मानुरागेण सेवते मां सदैव यः। स याति मम सायुज्यमात्मारामो न संशयः॥४७॥
Whoever always serves me in this way with heartfelt love attains union with me and delights in the Self; there is no doubt.
Passage 48
एवं यः सततं भक्तो देशकालानुसारतः। सेवते मां स्वशक्त्या च स मे प्रियतमः सदा॥४८॥ The devotee who continually serves me in this way, adapting to place and time and acting according to available means, is always most dear to me. **इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे उत्तरखण्डे श्रीरामात्रेयसंवादे आत्रेयबोधितश्रीरामगीतायां पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः॥१५॥
** Thus ends Chapter Fifteen of the Śrī Rāma Gītā taught in response to Ātreya, within the dialogue of Śrī Rāma and the sage of Atri's line in the Uttara-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa.