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.
यष्टव्यं पशुभिर्मे ध्यैरथ बीजैः फलैरपि
"Sacrifice should be performed with sacrificial animals, grains, and also with fruits."
यथेह देवता मन्त्रा हिंसालिङ्गा महर्षिभिः
Just as here, the mantras for the deities have, according to the great sages, the implication of violence,
तत्प्रामाण्यान्मया चोक्तं तस्मात्स प्राप्तुमर्हथ
Therefore, based on that authority, I have spoken; thus, you ought to obtain it.
तथा प्रवततां यज्ञो ह्यन्यथा वो ऽनृतं वचः
Let the sacrifice proceed in this way; otherwise, your words would be untrue.
अवश्यभावितं दृष्ट्वा तमथो वाग्यताभवन्
Seeing that it was inevitable, they then became silent.
ऊर्ध्वचारी वसुर्भूत्वा रसातलचरो ऽभवत्
Vasu, who once moved above, became one who moved in the netherworld.
धर्माणां संशयच्छेत्ता राजा वसुरधोगतः
The king Vasu, who dispelled doubts about righteousness, fell down.
बहुद्वारस्य धर्मस्य सूक्ष्मा दूरतरा गतिः
The path of righteousness, having many doors, is subtle and far-reaching.
देवानृषीनुपादाय स्वायंभुवमृते मनुम्
Except for Manu, the son of Svāyambhuva, neither gods nor seers attained it.
ऋषिकोटिसहस्राणि स्वतपोभिर्दिवं ययुः
Thousands of crores of seers, by their own austerities, reached heaven.