तस्यैवोद्यापनं कार्यं मासिमासि नरोत्तम
Its renewal should be performed every month, O best of men.
उद्दिश्य शंकरं विष्णुं ब्रह्माणं कुरुनन्दन 4.172.
Addressing Śaṅkara, Viṣṇu, and Brahmā, O descendant of Kuru,
एष धर्मघटो दत्तो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः
This dharmaghaṭa is given, embodying Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva.
(इति धर्मघटदानमंत्रः) अनेन विधिना यस्तु धर्मकुंभं प्रयच्छति
(Thus is the mantra for giving the dharmaghaṭa.) Whoever gives the dharmakuṃbha in this manner,
अश्वत्थरूपी भगवान्प्रीयतां मे जनार्दनः
May Lord Janārdana, in the form of the aśvattha tree, be pleased with me.
यः करोति तरोर्मूले सेकं मासचतुष्टयम्
Whoever waters the root of the tree for four months,
सुस्वादुशीतसलिला क्लमनाशिनी च प्रांते पुरस्य पथि पांथसमाजभूमौ
With water that is sweet and cool, dispelling fatigue, at the edge of the city, on the roadside, in a place where travelers gather.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे प्रपादानविधिवर्णनंनाम द्विसप्तत्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana, in the Uttara Parva, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Yudhishthira, ends the one hundred and seventy-second chapter, named 'Description of the Procedure for Constructing a Resting Place.'
अग्नीष्टिकादानविधिवर्णनम् युधिष्ठिर उवाच अग्नीष्टिका कथं देया शिशिरे शीतभीरुभिः
Description of the procedure for offering the Agnishtika fire-offering.
अग्नीष्टिकामहं पार्थ कथयामि निबोध ताम्। यथा येन विधानेन सर्वसत्वसुखप्रदाम्
Yudhishthira said: How should the Agnishtika be given by those who fear the cold in winter?
आदौ मार्गशिरे मासि शोभने दिवसे शुभाम्
O Partha, I shall tell you about the Agnishtika; listen to it—how and by what method it brings happiness to all beings.
देवांगणे पथे गेहे विस्तीर्णे चत्वरेथ वा
First, in the month of Margashirsha, on an auspicious and beautiful day,
ततः प्रज्वालयेदग्निं हुत्वा व्याहृतिभिः क्रमात्
in the courtyard of the gods, on the road, at home, or in a spacious public square,
यदि कश्चित्क्षुधार्थी स्याद्भोज्यं तस्मै प्रकल्पयेत्
then one should kindle the fire, offering oblations with the sacred utterances in due order.
यः करोति कथाः पार्थ न ताः शक्या मयोदितुम्
If someone is hungry, food should be prepared for him.
वदेल्लोकः सुखासीनो न केनापि निवार्यते
O Partha, the stories that are told—those I am unable to recount.
तस्य पुण्यफलं राज न्कथ्यमानं निबोध मे
The people, sitting comfortably, may speak as they wish; no one restrains them.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि षष्टिवर्षशतानि च 4.173.
Hear from me, O king, the merit and fruit of this act as it is declared.
इह लोकेवतीर्णश्च चतुर्वेदो द्विजो भवेत्
For sixty thousand years and six thousand years besides,
चैत्ये सुरांगणसभावसथे सुभव्यां येऽग्नीष्टिकां प्रचुरकाष्ठवतीं प्रदद्युः
in this world, one is born as a twice-born who knows the four Vedas.
विद्यादानविधिवर्णनम् युधिष्ठिर उवाच बहुप्रदानं गोदानं त्वत्तो विद्वञ्छ्रुतं मया
In a shrine, in the assembly hall of the gods, or in a noble dwelling, those who offer the Agnishtika with abundant firewood—
सांप्रतं यदुशार्दूल विद्यादानस्य यो विधिः
Description of the procedure for the gift of knowledge.
यथा देयं फलं यच्च दत्तेन कुरुनंदन
Yudhishthira said: I have heard from you, O wise one, about many gifts and the giving of cows.
शुभेऽह्नि विप्रकथिते गोमयेन सुशोभनम्
Now, O best of the Yadus, tell me the procedure for the gift of knowledge.
पुष्पप्रकरसंछन्नं स्वस्तिकादि विभूषितम्
Covered with an array of flowers and adorned with auspicious symbols such as the svastika,
सौवर्णीं लेखनी कार्या रौप्यं च मषिभाजनम्
A writing instrument of gold should be used, and the inkpot should be of silver.
विनीतश्चाप्रमत्तश्च ततः प्रभृति लेखकः
From then on, the scribe should be humble and attentive.
समानि समशीर्षाणि वर्तुलानि धनानि च
The lines should be even, the tops level, and the characters rounded and well-formed.
निष्पादयित्वा तच्छास्त्रं शैवं वाप्यथ वैष्णवम्
Having completed that scripture, whether Shaiva or Vaishnava,
संपूजयित्वा तच्छास्त्रं देयं गुणवते तदा 4.174.
After duly worshipping that scripture, it should then be given to a worthy person.