“The Buddha taught the eightfold path: Right livelihood, right action, right samādhi, right speech, Right effort, right intention, right attention, and right view. A mantrin should correctly rely on each and every one.

“Through this path one finds success in mantras, And likewise the higher realms and liberation. The victors of the past and the victors’ heirs Have gone along it to become thus-gone ones.

“Those who, with an insatiable mind, Reverentially gather merit with body, speech, and mind Will cultivate that path of virtue If they embrace the true path spoken by the Sugata.

“Relinquishing all grasping, Content with simple robes, Meager alms and medicines, and plain bedding, They will receive merit.

“They should never praise themselves, Nor should they disparage other beings. Regarding the world as a tiger, snake, or fire, They should forsake it and take joy in solitude.

“They give up scrutinizing the features of men and women, Medicine, and elephants, and investigating the stars. They give up examining weapons, scrutinizing horses, And the study of base literature and treatises.

“They should neither observe nor instigate fights Between elephants, horses, cattle, cocks, dogs, Grouse, partridges, owls, men, women, Boys, girls, children, sheep, and so forth.

“They should not gossip about the realm or serve kings, Nor trade stories of war, wrestlers, or young women, Nor tell fantastical tales or weave histories, And should not speak of their desires or discuss sex work.

“Mantrins intent on mantra recitation should not frequent Towns, cities, homes, or monasteries, Caityas, mountain hermitages, the haunts of ascetics, Pleasure gardens, ponds, or pools.

“If unable to find the places previously described, They should reside and recite in empty shrines, At a tree, mountain, river, stream, or waterfall, In an empty forest, empty land, or any suitable place.

“If they cannot settle on a place, They can stay in any suitable place For a span of eight months. In the months of winter and spring Mantrins can make their home At an isolated lake, tree, mountain, Pond, house, or riverbank, And remain there alone through the summer.

“Just as the Victor taught monks the custom Of not traveling during the three summer months, So the Blessed One said that mantrins Should stay in one place for three months.

“In the summer mantrins should not seek accomplishment, But rather spend their time only on recitation. When the summer has passed, they should harness the might of mantra, Perform the self-protection rites, and take up their practice.

“They should make well-formed fire pits: One round, one triangular, one square, and one like a lotus. They should be smooth and even, And well-daubed with soil and cow dung.

“A round pit is best suited for pacification rites, And those for generating power, attracting wealth, and invitation. A triangular pit is used for fierce activities: Those for isolating, banishing, killing, and other hostile acts.

“A square pit is for sapping the life force Or crushing the limbs of nāgas and guhyakas. A lotus pit is suited to accomplish any aim, And for acquiring women, girls, a village, or a kingdom.

“The fire pits should be smeared with pure cow dung, Then kuśa grass spread around them as the final step.

“The mantrin should follow the ritual to make offerings Of all available garlands, incense, fragrances, and fresh flowers, Offering them faithfully to the Three Jewels, Vajrapāṇi, and the main female deity.

“They should place abundant firewood near the fire pit, Stoke the fire using a fan, and bow to the buddhas. For wrathful rites they should use Amṛtakuṇḍalin, Making oblations by casting into the fire Seven, eight, ten, or twenty fresh lotuses or whole black mustard seeds.

“The mantrin should sit facing east On a bed or bolster of kuśa grass, or a grass mat. After smearing the ritual substance with ghee, honey, and milk, They should perform a homa to perfect their mantra.

“The fire will reveal certain signs: Sparks, smoke, a tongue of flame, and sound. With these the fire, empowered by mantra, Will show what has been accomplished and what has not.

“If the fire is smokeless, shines with a golden color, Has tremendous flames that swirl to the right, Is colored like a rainbow, is white, Or has the color of crushed coral; If it is very oily, or has flames radiating from its base; If it shines brightly like the rays of the sun, Takes the shape of a vase, banner, or parasol, Or resembles the śrīvatsa mark, lotus, or ritual ladle; If its flames appear like a trident, vajra, or sword, Fine chariot or fly whisk; If it sounds like a clay drum, large drum, or flute; If its smoke and flames are fragrant and give off good sparks; Or if the fire burns without being lit, At that moment extensive siddhis are achieved.

“If there is a lot of smoke and wild sparks; If the fire burns with difficulty or burns very low; Or if its flames die out, are without luster, or rough, If they are the color of a dark cloud or of palāśa, If they resemble a spike, appear to be very fine, Or resemble the coarse hairs on the head of an animal, If the flames spread and burn the one performing homa, Or if they smell like a corpse, it is a sign that there are no siddhis.

“Upon seeing flames with features like these, Perform a homa of Mahābala using ghee.

“A mantrin should not pluck the hairs Of their calves or armpits by hand, Singe them with fire, shave them with a razor, Or apply medicines to make themselves hairless.

“Just as a person holding a sword by the blade Will cut their hand if not holding it carefully, If a mantra is not recited with care, There will either be no result, or one will fall to ruin.

“It is not the mantra deity that will harm A person lacking discipline or ritual purity, It is those among the deity’s retinue, Who seize the chance to bring ruin upon them.

“The first step in pursuit of any accomplishment Is to always make abundant offerings of food oblations. Even after the mantra activity is complete, One should always offer everything they are moved to offer.

“The mantrin should say: ‘Devas, asuras, yakṣas, uragas, and kumbhāṇḍas, Garuḍas, suparṇas, and kaṭapūtanas, Gandharvas, rākṣasas, and various classes of grahas, All magical beings who live upon the earth, Along with your families and households, I kneel with folded hands and supplicate you— Please come here from your homes and bring benefit.

“ ‘Bhūtas who dwell atop Mount Meru, In pleasure groves and the divine realms, Mountains of the east and west, The houses of the sun and moon, and upon any mountain;

“Who live in rivers or at their confluence, Dwell in jeweled abodes, In lakes, ponds, pools, at the water’s edge, Or in the many small rivulets;

“ ‘Who live in towns, cattle pens, and deserted cities, Vacant houses and shrines to the gods, Monasteries and caityas, The haunts of ascetics, and in elephant stalls;

“ ‘Who live in the treasuries of kings, In narrow lanes, assembly halls, and at crossroads, Along the great highways, under lone trees, In the great charnel grounds, and in vast forests;

“ ‘And who live among lions, bears, and beasts of prey, In the great and fearsome wilds, On the sublime continents, Mount Sumeru, Or within a charnel ground—

“ ‘Delight, be glad, and accept these respectful offerings Of garlands, flowers, scents, incense, praise, oblations, and lamps. Drink them and keep them, And let these activities bear their fruit.’

“Once such offerings have been made to the grahas, The mantrin should make offerings to the directional guardians: ‘Iśāṇa and your host of bhūtas, Please accept the oblations I offer!

“ ‘Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Kubera and your bhūtas and grahas, Sūrya and Candra above, great Brahmā, All devas and the nāgas on earth, Mountain devas, and hosts of yakṣas, Delightfully accept these oblations, Offered to each of you in turn. Happily remain each in your directions, And join your families, kith and kin, Households, and soldiers in your army In partaking of these offerings Of flowers, fragrance, oblations, and unguents. Be grateful, and let my activities bear fruit!’

“Those who perform this ritual act Of giving oblations to the creatures of the night Will swiftly attain siddhi, be free of obstacles, And receive all that they desire.”