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.
प्रपच्छुरिद्रं संभूय को ऽयं यज्ञ विधिस्तव
They all approached Indra together and asked, 'What is this method of sacrifice of yours?'
ततः पशुवधश्चैष तव यज्ञे सुरोत्तम
Then, O best of gods, this killing of animals is found in your sacrifice.
नायं धर्मो ह्यधर्मो ऽयं न हिंसा धर्म उच्यते
This is not righteousness; indeed, this is unrighteousness. Violence is not called righteousness.
विधिदृष्टेन यज्ञेन धर्मेणाव्यपसेतुना
By a sacrifice prescribed by proper rule, with righteousness unbroken by transgression,
त्रिवर्षं परमं कालमुषितैरप्ररोहिभिः
For a maximum period of three years, with those that do not sprout.
एवं विश्वभुगिन्द्रस्तु ऋषिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
Thus, the lord of the universe, Indra, together with the seers who perceive the truth,
जङ्गमस्थावरैः कैर्हि यष्टव्यमिति चोच्यते
It is asked: With which moving or unmoving beings should the sacrifice be performed?
सन्धाय वाक्यमिन्द्रेण पप्रच्छुः खेचरं वसुम्
Having composed their words, they questioned Vasum, the sky-roaming one, on behalf of Indra.
औत्तानपादे प्रब्रूहि संशयं नो नुद प्रभो
"O descendant of Uttānapāda, speak and dispel our doubt, O lord."
वेदशास्त्रमनुस्मृत्य यज्ञतत्त्वमुवाच ह
Recalling the Vedas and the scriptures, he spoke about the true nature of sacrifice.