एवं संपूजयित्वा तान्देवान्यत्नेन शुद्धधीः
Thus, having worshipped those deities with great effort and a pure mind,
ततस्तु तैर्द्विजैः सार्द्धं कुंडस्य विधिपूर्वकम्
then, together with those Brahmins, he should perform the rites for the altar according to the prescribed procedure.
ततः समाह्वयेद्वह्निं नाम्ना ख्यातं घृतार्चिषम् अलाभे तु बहूना च यथालाभं नियोजयेत्
After that, he should invoke the fire known by name as Ghrtarci, and if many are not available, he should appoint as many as can be obtained.
विद्यावृद्धान्वयोवृद्धान्गृहस्थान्संयतेन्द्रियान्
He should appoint those who are learned, advanced in age, householders, and self-controlled.
चिंतयेत्तत्र देवेशं पंचास्यं नृप पावकम् 4.142.
There, O king, he should meditate upon the Lord of the gods as the five-faced Fire.
एकजिह्वमथैकं तु तत्स्मृतं सर्वकामदम्
With one tongue, and one form, it is remembered as the fulfiller of all desires.
ऋग्भिः पूर्वामुखैर्होमो यजुर्भिश्चोत्तरामुखैः। सामभिः पश्चिमे कार्योऽथर्वभिर्दक्षिणामुखैः
The oblation should be offered facing east with Rigvedic hymns, facing north with Yajurvedic hymns, facing west with Samavedic hymns, and facing south with Atharvavedic hymns.
आघारावाज्य भागौ तु पूर्वं हुत्वा विचक्षणः
First, the wise one should offer the āghāra and ājya portions.
ब्रह्माणं पूर्वमप्येतत्सर्वं पश्चात्समाचरेत्
All this should be performed first for Brahman, and then for the others.
प्रणवादिभिस्तल्लिंगैः स्वाहाकारांतयोजितैः
With the syllable Om and other such marks, joined with the utterance of Svāhā,
एवं प्रकल्पये द्यज्ञं कोटिहोमाख्यमुत्तमम्
Thus, one should arrange the supreme sacrifice called the Koṭi-homa.
होतव्याः कोटिहोमे तु समिधश्च पलाशजाः पञ्चमे तन्मुखे राजन्सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये
In the Koṭi-homa, the offerings should be palāśa wood, O king, and in the fifth face of the fire, for the accomplishment of all desires.
पूर्णाहुत्यः समाख्याताः कोटिहोमे नराधिप
The complete oblations are prescribed in the Koṭi-homa, O ruler of men.
प्रारंभदिनमारभ्य ब्राह्मणैर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः
From the very first day, by Brahmins who are knowers of Brahman,
क्रोधलोभादयो दोषा वर्जनीयाः प्रयत्नतः 4.142.
Faults such as anger and greed must be carefully avoided.
कालेन महता चैव शक्यः प्राप्तुं कथंचन
By the passage of much time, it may somehow be accomplished.
नियमाद्ब्रह्मचर्याद्वा दुष्करो हीति मे मतिः
But by strict observance or by celibacy, it is difficult—such is my opinion.
कार्याद्गुरुतया यस्मात्पर्वकालाद्यपेक्षया कोटिहोमस्य संक्षेपं वद मे ब्रह्म संभव
Because of the greatness of the task and the dependence on auspicious times, O Brahma-born, tell me in brief about the Koṭi-homa.
चतुर्विधो महाराज कोटिहोमो विधीयते
O great king, the koṭi-homa is prescribed in four varieties.
कार्यस्य गुरुतां ज्ञात्वा नैव कुर्यादपर्वणि
Having understood the gravity of the undertaking, one should not perform it on an inauspicious day.
कृत्वा कुंडशतं दिव्यं यथोक्तं हस्त संमितम्
After preparing a hundred sacred fire-pits as described, each measured by the hand,
सद्यः पक्षे तु विप्राणां सहस्रं परिकीर्तितम्
It is said that, at once, a thousand Brāhmaṇas are to be engaged.
होमं कुर्युर्द्विजाः सर्वे कुण्डे कुण्डे यथोदितम्
All the twice-born should perform the homa in each fire-pit as prescribed.
न च वह्निबहुत्वं स्यात्तत्र यज्ञे विधीयते
But there should not be a multiplicity of fires in that sacrifice.
एक एव भवेद्यज्ञः कोटिहोमो न संशयः शताननः स विज्ञेयः कोटिहोमो न संशयः ।। 4.142.
There should be only one sacrifice; the koṭi-homa is indeed so, without doubt. It is to be understood as a hundred-faced (multi-faceted) koṭi-homa, without doubt.
स्वल्पैरहोभिः कार्यः स्याद्वर्षाकालादिकेऽपि वा
It may be accomplished in a few days, or even at the beginning of the rainy season.
विप्राणां द्वे शते तत्र सुविभज्य नियोजयेत्
Two hundred Brāhmaṇas should be properly divided and engaged there.
भूप कुंडद्वयं कृत्वा विभज्य च विभावसुम्
O king, after making two fire-pits and dividing the fire,
शतं तत्र नियोज्यं स्याद्विप्राणां प्रविभज्य वै
A hundred Brāhmaṇas should be assigned to each, properly divided.
एवं च द्विमुखं कार्यः कोटिहोमो विचक्षणैः
Thus, the wise should perform the koṭi-homa with two faces (in two parts).