पंक्तिर्दशहला प्रोक्ता हलं स्यात्तु चतुर्गवम्
A row is said to be ten ploughs; a plough should be four oxen in length.
सौवर्णपट्टसंनद्ध रत्नवंति शुभानि च
They should be adorned with golden bands and set with jewels, and be auspicious.
वस्त्रकांचनपुष्पैश्च चंदनैर्दिग्धमस्तकान्
With cloth, gold flowers, and their heads anointed with sandalwood.
योक्त्राणि युगलग्नानि सवृषाणि च कारयेत्
The yokes should be paired, and bulls should be provided.
एवंविध हलैः कुर्यात्तं युक्तां हलपंक्तिकाम्
With such ploughs, one should make the row of ploughs properly yoked.
निवर्तनशतं वापि तदर्द्धं वा प्रकल्पयेत्
One should arrange for a hundred turns, or half that, as appropriate.
कार्तिक्यां चाथ वैशाख्यामुत्तरे वाऽयने तथा
In Kartika or Vaishakha, or likewise in the northern solstice.
ब्राह्मणान्वेदसंपन्नान्व्यंगहीनानलंकृतान् 4.166.
Brahmins endowed with Vedic knowledge, free from defects, and adorned, should be present.
दशहस्तप्रमाणेन मंडपं कारयेद्बुधः
A wise person should construct a pavilion measuring ten hands.
तत्र व्याहृतिभिर्होमं कुर्युस्ते द्विजसत्तमाः
There, the excellent twice-born should perform the fire offering with the sacred utterances.
पालाश्यः समिधस्तत्र साज्यं कृष्णास्तिलास्तथा
There, the kindling wood should be from the palasha tree, with ghee and black sesame seeds.
ततः सर्वसमीपे तु स्नातः शुक्लांबरः शुचिः
Then, in the presence of all, having bathed, wearing white garments, and being pure.
तूर्यशंखनिनादैश्च ब्रह्मघोषैः सुपुष्कलैः
With the sounds of musical instruments, conches, and abundant Vedic chants.
यस्माद्देवगणाः सर्वे हले तिष्ठंति सर्वदा
Because all the hosts of gods always stand by the plough.
यस्माच्च भूमिदानस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्
And because even the sixteenth part of a land-gift cannot be equaled.
एवमुक्ते ततः पंक्तिं प्रेरयेयुर्द्विजोत्तमाः
When this was said, the best of the twice-born set the line in motion.
स्वयं पश्चाद्धले लग्नो विप्रहस्तेषु निर्वपेत्
Then, having entered the furrow himself, he should place the gift into the hands of the Brahmins.
प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा विप्राणां प्रतिपाद्य च 4.166.
After making a circumambulation, he should present it to the Brahmins.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु दानमेतत्प्रयच्छति
Whoever gives this gift according to this procedure,
सप्तजन्मसु दारिद्र्यं दौर्भाग्यं व्याधयस्तथा
For seven births, poverty, misfortune, and diseases
दृष्ट्वा तद्दीयमानं तु दानमेतद्युधिष्ठिर
Seeing this gift being given, O Yudhishthira,
दानमेतत्प्रदत्तं हि दिलीपेन ययातिना
This very gift was given by Dilīpa and Yayāti.
तेऽद्यापि दिवि मोदंते दानस्यास्य प्रभावतः
Even today, they rejoice in heaven because of the power of this gift.
दातव्यं भक्तियुक्तेन स्त्रिया वा पुरुषेण वा
It should be given with devotion, whether by a woman or a man.
एकमप्युक्तविधिना हलं देयं विचक्षणैः
Even a single plough should be given according to the prescribed method by the wise.
ये संति लांगलमुखोत्थरजोविकारा यावंति तद्गतधुरंधर रोमकाणि
As many dust particles as arise from the tip of the plough, as many hairs as are on the yoke,
युक्तां वृषैरतिबलैर्हलपंक्तिमेतां पुण्येह्नि भक्तिसहितान्द्विजपुंगवेभ्यः
A line of ploughs yoked with strong bulls should be given to the foremost Brahmins on an auspicious day, with devotion.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्ण युधिष्ठिरसंवादे हलपंक्तिदानविधिवर्णनंनाम षट्षष्ट्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana, in the Uttaraparvan, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Yudhishthira, the one hundred sixty-sixth chapter named 'Description of the Procedure for the Gift of a Line of Ploughs' is concluded.
आपाकदानविधिवर्णनम् बहुपुत्रो बहुधनो बहुभृत्यश्च जायते
Description of the procedure for the gift of āpāka: One who gives becomes the father of many sons, possesses much wealth, and has many servants.
(हव्यवाहनः) पितृपैतामहं तेन प्राप्तं राज्य मकंटकम्
(Havyavāhana:) By that, the kingdom obtained from ancestors and grandfathers remains untroubled.