क्षीरं च पिष्टकं चैव शष्कुलीगन्धपुष्पकम्
Milk, flour preparations, and also śaṣkulī and fragrant flowers.
आचार्यो यजमानेन सुसन्नद्धैश्च भृत्यकैः
The teacher, together with the sacrificer and well-attired attendants.
अवाप्य च ततो यष्टिं स्थिरो भवति वैरिवा
Having obtained the staff, one becomes steadfast, even against an enemy.
यज्ञप्रियासि देवि त्वं सर्वविघ्नविनाशिनी 2.2.20.
O goddess, you are fond of sacrifice and destroyer of all obstacles.
इत्यामंत्र्य यजेच्चैव गायत्रीं च पठेत्ततः
Having thus invoked, one should perform the sacrifice and then recite the Gāyatrī.
पुनरागत्य तां वेदिं निर्मथ्य वरुणं प्रभुम्
Returning again to the altar, one should churn and invoke Lord Varuṇa.
अनिष्टं मार्जयेन्नागानुद्धृत्य कलशं तथा
One should remove inauspiciousness, extract the nāga, and likewise the pot.
वरुणं पुष्करिण्यां च जलमध्ये विनिक्षिपेत्
One should place Varuṇa in the lotus pond, within the water.
निर्मन्थेत्तत्र यो नागः स्थापयेत्तु यथाविधि
The nāga who is churned there should be established according to the prescribed manner.
अत्र स्वामी भवान्नाग रक्षणीयस्त्वया जनः
Here, you are the master, O nāga; the people must be protected by you.
संपूज्य गंधपुष्पाद्यैः पुरतो निक्षिपेद्दिशि
Having worshipped with fragrant flowers and the like, one should place it facing the direction.
सन्निरुद्ध्याशु संस्थाप्य बलिं दद्या द्विधानतः
Having quickly secured it and established it, one should offer the oblation in two ways.
एवं भूरिति मंत्रै स्वैः स्वैरेव तु पृथग्विधैः
Thus, with one's own distinct mantras, one should say 'bhūḥ' with each.
पूर्वभागे पुष्करिण्यां हरिताभं सवज्रकम् 2.2.20.
In the eastern part of the lotus pond, a green one with a thunderbolt.
त्रातारमिति मंत्रेण अग्नौ विन्यस्य मौक्तिकम्
With the mantra 'trātāram', one should place the pearl in the fire.
वैश्वानरेण मन्त्रेण पठल्लाँजाहुतिं पुनः
With the Vaiśvānara mantra, one should again offer the rice grain oblation.
शालिबीजेन सहितं कया न इति मंत्रकम्
Together with rice seeds, with the mantra 'kayā na'.
उत्तरे रोचनां कन्यां तथैव गौरसर्षपम्
In the north, rocanā, a maiden, and likewise cow's mustard.
विन्यस्य तेन मंत्रेण प्रदद्यादाहुतिं पुनः
Having placed it, one should offer the oblation again with that mantra.
संस्थाप्याज्याहुतिं दद्यात्तमीशान ऋचा पुनः
Having established, one should offer the ghee oblation again with the Īśāna hymn.
वरुणात्मकं ततो ध्यात्वा ततो नीराजनं पठेत्
Then, meditating on the essence of Varuṇa, one should recite the nīrājana rite.
धर्मो वंशं ततः कुर्यादुत्सर्गांते विधीयते
After that, Dharma should establish the lineage, which is prescribed at the conclusion of the release.
सर्वसत्त्वोपकाराय समुत्सृजेत्तु वै जनम्
For the benefit of all beings, one should indeed release the people.
वरुणं च ततो देवं पुष्करिण्यां च निक्षिपेत् ।। 2.2.20.
Then, one should place the deity Varuṇa in the lotus pond.
जले वरुणमन्त्रेण मत्स्यादीन्प्रक्षिपेत्ततः
Then, with the Varuṇa mantra, one should immerse fish and others in the water.
शैवालं प्रक्षिपेच्चैव दक्षिणां तदनंतरम्
One should also place śaivāla (aquatic plants), and then the gift, in succession.
ऋत्विग्भ्यश्च पृथग्दद्याद्यथावित्तानुसारतः
One should give separately to the officiating priests, according to one’s means.
नित्यं समाप्य विधिवद्दद्यात्पूर्णाहुतिं पुनः
Having completed everything properly, one should again offer the full oblation.
ततः प्रदक्षिणावर्तं संवेष्ट्य क्षीरधारया
Then, having wrapped a clockwise thread with a stream of milk,
शताधिधारया शक्त्या त्रिवारं ब्राह्मणैः सह
With a hundredfold stream, with power, three times together with the brāhmaṇas,