मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु अतीतानागतेष्विह
In all the Manvantaras, both past and future, here in this world,
त्रेतायुगे च तान्यत्र जायन्ते चक्रवर्त्तिनः
In the Treta age, those emperors are born there.
अत्यद्भुतानि चत्वारि बलं धर्मः सुखं धनम्
Four exceedingly wondrous things: strength, righteousness, happiness, and wealth.
अर्थो धर्मश्च कामश्च यशो विजय एव च
Prosperity, righteousness, desire, fame, and victory as well.
श्रुतेन तपसा चैव मुनीनभिभवन्ति वै
By learning and by austerity, indeed, they surpass the sages.
लक्षणैश्चैव जायन्ते शरीरस्थैरमानुषैः
They are born with marks, bodily and human.
ताम्रप्रभोष्टनेत्राश्च श्रीवत्साश्चैद्ध्वरोमशाः
Copper-hued lips and eyes, the mark of Śrīvatsa, and radiant hair.
न्यग्रोधपरिणाहाश्च सिंहस्कन्धास्तु मेहनाः
With the girth of a banyan tree, lion-like shoulders, and prominent genitalia.
पादयोश्चक्रमत्स्योन्तु शङ्खपद्मौ तुहस्तयोः
On their feet are the signs of wheels and fish; on their hands, conch and lotus.
असंगगतयस्तेषां चतस्रश्चक्रवर्त्तिनाम्
Among them, four emperors possess unattached qualities.
इज्या दानं तपः सत्यं त्रेतायां धर्म उच्यते
Sacrifice, giving, austerity, and truth are called righteousness in the Treta age.
मर्यादास्थापनार्थं च दण्डनीतिः प्रवर्त्तते
For the purpose of establishing boundaries, the rule of punishment is enacted.
एको वेदश्चतुष्पादस्त्रेतायुगविधौस्मृतः
One Veda, fourfold, is remembered as the knowledge in the Treta age.
पुत्रपौत्रसमाकीर्णा म्रियन्ते च क्रमेण तु
Surrounded by sons and grandsons, they die in due order.
संध्यापादः स्वभावस्तु सोंऽशपदेन तिष्ठति
The twilight period is its own nature; it remains with the name of 'Saṃ.'
पूर्वं स्वायंभुवे सर्गे यथावत्तच्च ब्रूहि मे
Tell me, as it was, about the creation in the earlier Svāyambhuva epoch.
कालाख्यायां प्रवृत्तायां प्राप्ते त्रेतायुगे तदा
When the period known as Kālī had ended and the Tretā Yuga had arrived,
प्रतिष्ठितायां वार्त्तायां गृहाश्रमपरे पुनः
When the established order was restored, those devoted to the householder stage again,
संभारांस्तांस्तु मंभृत्य कथं यज्ञः प्रवर्त्तितः
Having gathered together those necessary materials, how was the sacrifice then commenced?
यथा त्रेतायुगमुखे यज्ञस्य स्यात्प्रवर्तनम्
How, at the beginning of the Tretā Yuga, did the performance of sacrifice come to be established?
अन्तर्हितायां संध्यायां सार्द्धं कृतयुगेन तु
When the twilight period had disappeared, together with the Kṛta Yuga,
औषधीषु च जातासु प्रवृत्ते वृष्टिसर्जने
And when medicinal herbs had arisen, and the sending of rain had begun,
वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थानं कृत्वा मन्त्रांस्तु संहतान्
Establishing the system of varṇas and āśramas, and assembling the mantras,
तदा विश्वभुगिन्द्रश्च यज्ञं प्रावर्त्तयत्प्रभुः
Then the lord, Indra, the enjoyer of the universe, commenced the sacrifice.
तस्याश्वमेधे वितते समाजग्मुर्महर्षयः
At his great Aśvamedha sacrifice, the great sages assembled.
कर्मव्यग्रेषु ऋत्विक्षु संतते यज्ञकर्मणि
While the priests were engaged in their duties, and the sacrificial acts were being performed,
परिक्रान्तेषु लघुषु ह्यध्वर्युवृषभेषु च
When the lighter tasks had been completed, and the chief Adhvaryu priests were present,
हविष्यग्नौ हूयमाने ब्राह्मणैश्चाग्निहोत्रिभिः
As offerings were being poured into the sacred fire by the Brahmins who tended the fire,
य इन्द्रियात्मका देवास्तदा ते यज्ञभागिनः
Then, the gods who are of the nature of the senses became the recipients of the sacrifice.
अध्वर्यवः प्रैषकाले व्यत्थिता वै महर्षयः
At the time of the priestly injunction, the Adhvaryu priests, the great sages, were agitated.