हीने हीनतरं कुर्याद्धस्तमानेन ह्रासयेत् मानस्तथा षोडशहस्तसम्मितो रत्नात्सगण्डीयुगकामयोजितैः
If deficient, one should make it still more so, reducing by the measure of a hand; likewise, the measure is considered sixteen hands, joined with gems and pairs of Gaṇḍī.
आनाहभग्ने च भवेच्च तस्य विंशां गुलो द्विगुणो मध्यगश्च
If it is incomplete or broken, then its value is doubled for the one in the middle.
एवंविधश्चैव तडागयूपो मध्ये तथा षोडशहस्तसंमितः
In the same way, the sacrificial post for a reservoir should be placed in the middle, measuring sixteen cubits.
आरामयोगेऽप्यथ मण्डपे च कार्यश्चतुर्हस्तमितोऽथ यूपः हस्तद्वयं प्रापितव्यं तडागे हस्तः सार्धः पुष्करिण्यां प्ररोपः
In a garden or pavilion, the post should be four cubits in size; in a reservoir, it should reach two cubits, and in a lotus pond, one and a half cubits should be planted.
प्रादेशं वै हस्तमानं कूपयूपस्य रोपतः
The post for a well should be planted with a measurement of a palm's length.
तडागे चापि आरामे स्थापयेच्च जलोपरि वाप्यां गर्ते पुष्करिण्यां प्रकुर्याज्जलसंमितम्
In a reservoir or garden, it should be established above the water; in a pond, pit, or lotus pool, it should be made to match the water level.
यावत्प्रतोलीगतरेणुसंगसंख्यागणो नो जरतामुपैति
As long as the number of grains of sand on the main road endures, so long does it not decay.
किं वा वाच्यः पुष्करिण्या प्रभावः कर्ता यः स्याद्वारुणो ब्रह्मलोकात्
What need is there to speak of the power of a lotus pond, if its creator is as great as Varuna or from the world of Brahma?
लक्षैकमाराममयोत्तमः स्यान्मध्यं तदर्धं च कनिष्ठमानम् विनार्जुनैर्बदरैः शैलुकैश्च हीनं कुर्याच्छानलैः पातिलैश्च ।। 2.1.9.
The best garden should be made of one hundred thousand trees; the middle measure is half of that, and the lowest is half again. Without arjuna, jujube, or shailuka trees, it is considered deficient, as also without shanala and patila trees.
पूर्तनिर्णयवर्णनम् दशहस्तेन दण्डेन पञ्चहस्तेन वा पुनः
Description of the decision regarding works of merit: The land should be measured with a staff of ten cubits or five cubits.
वाहयेत्सदा वृषभैस्तडागार्थेऽपि भूमिकाम्
The ground for a reservoir should always be plowed by oxen.
या भूमिर्ग्रहयागार्थे तन्न वाहैरपि स्पृशेत्
But the land intended for a sacrificial hall should not be touched by plowing.
वाहयेत्त्रिदिनं विप्राः पञ्चव्रीहींश्च वापयेत्
Brahmins should have it plowed for three days, and sow five kinds of rice.
मुद्गमाषौ धान्य तिलाः श्यामाकश्चेति पञ्चमः
Mung beans, black gram, grains, sesame, and shyamaka are the five kinds.
सर्षपश्च कलायश्च मुद्गो माषश्चतुर्थकः
Mustard and kalaya, mung and black gram are the fourth group.
सुवर्णमृत्तिका ग्राह्या वर्णानामनुपूर्वशः
Gold dust should be taken in the proper order of colors.
अरत्निमात्रं विज्ञेयं प्रशस्तं यष्टिहस्तकम्
A staff of the length of a cubit is considered proper for measurement.
क्षीरदारुगर्तयुतं द्वादशांगुलमेव च ।। ज्वालयेत्तिलतैलेन तथा केशरजेन वा
A pit with milk-wood and twelve finger-breadths should be used; it should be kindled with sesame oil or with hair powder.
पूर्वदिक्प्रणवे सिद्धिः पश्चिमाशागतिः शुभा 2.1.10.
Success comes from the invocation facing east; the western direction is auspicious for departure.
कल्पे विपत्करं विद्यात्तथा चैव च दिग्गते
In the ritual, one should know what brings misfortune, and likewise, what pertains to each direction.
मासे घटे तथा मासं कुर्याद्भूमिपरिग्रहम्
In the month, at the proper time, one should undertake the acquisition of land.
ततो वास्तुबलिं दद्यात्खनित्रं परिपूजयेत्
Afterwards, one should offer the vastu sacrifice and duly honor the spade.
आज्येन मधुयुक्तेन गात्रमेकं प्रलेपयेत्
With clarified butter mixed with honey, one should anoint a single limb.
ईशानाभिमुखेनैव कूपपक्षे विदुर्बुधाः
Indeed, the wise declare that, facing northeast, one should perform the ritual on the side of the well.
तस्य वैवस्वतो राजा धर्मस्यार्धं निकृन्तति
There, King Vaivasvata cuts away half of righteousness.
गृहारंभे च विप्रेंद्रा दद्याद्वास्तु बलिं ततः ।। शालैश्च खादिरैश्चैव पलाशैः केशरस्य च
At the commencement of house-building, O best of Brahmins, one should then offer the vastu sacrifice with shala, khadira, palasha, and kesara woods.
बिल्वस्य बकुलस्यैव कलौ यूपः प्रशस्यते
In the Kali age, the yupa (sacrificial post) made of bilva or bakula wood is praised.
सर्पाकारस्तडागे च कूपे कुम्भाकृतिर्भवेत्
In a pond, it should be shaped like a serpent; in a well, it should be shaped like a pot.
कुर्याच्छुनाकृतिं सेतौ विष्णुगेहे गदाकृतिम् 2.1.10.
On a bridge, one should make it in the form of a dog; in Vishnu's temple, in the form of a mace.
गोयागे च वृषाकारं गृहयागे ध्वजाकृतिम्
For a cow-sacrifice, it should be in the form of a bull; for a house-sacrifice, in the form of a flag.