Ravi’s descendant approached Viṣṇu, the Lord who dwells in water, and addressed him with reverence. “O Lord of gods,” he said, “in ponds, gardens, wells, reservoirs, and lotus pools—and also in temples of the gods—I wish to know the proper procedures. Who are the officiating priests in these places, O master? What kind of altar should be constructed? Please tell me in detail: what is the proper time, direction, and place, who should be the teacher, and which materials are best? Kindly explain everything truly.” Viṣṇu responded, “Hear, O king of mighty arms, the procedure regarding tanks and similar places, as described in the Purāṇas. This tradition is recited by those learned in the Vedas. After the sun has entered its northern course, during an auspicious bright fortnight, and on a holy day declared by the Brāhmaṇas, one should perform the rite. “In a land sloping to the east or north, near the tank, a pure altar should be constructed. It ought to be four cubits square, with four sides. The pavilion, likewise, should be sixteen cubits square and four-sided. Around the altar, three trenches should be dug, each a cubit wide. Let there be nine, seven, or five trenches—no more, O prince—each a span in width. The yoni, or pit, should be six or seven fingers broad. There should be seven trenches, each with three raised embankments, all of the same color throughout, adorned with banners and flags. “The doors of the pavilion should be made in each direction, fashioned from branches of the aśvattha, udumbara, plakṣa, and vaṭa trees. Eight auspicious priests should be appointed, along with eight doorkeepers and eight reciters—Brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas. The chief priest must be a foremost Brāhmaṇa, complete in all marks, skilled in mantras, self-controlled, and endowed with noble family and conduct. “In each trench, place water vessels and sacrificial implements, and a fan of white yak-tail, all set in a broad copper vessel. Various colored offering vessels should be prepared for each deity, and the teacher, after due consideration, should place them on the ground. The sacrificial post should be three cubits high, made from a saline tree, or according to the measure of the sacrificer, to be set up by one desiring prosperity. “There should be twenty-five priests adorned with gold ornaments—golden earrings, armlets, and bracelets. Let them also have rings, sacred threads, and various garments. The teacher should honor them all equally, and again give them double, along with bedding and whatever else is dear to himself. “At the beginning, obtain a golden tortoise and makara, a silver fish and drum, a copper crab and frog, and an iron crocodile, O lord of the people. Clad in white garlands and garments, anointed with white fragrant unguents, and bathed with all medicinal waters by those learned in the Vedas, the sacrificer, with his wife, sons, and grandsons, should approach the western door and enter the sacrificial pavilion. “With auspicious sounds and the resonance of drums, the knower of the principles should swiftly create a mandala with five colors. Next, a sixteen-spoked wheel with a lotus center, four faces, and four sides all around, beautifully circular in the middle, should be made. Having constructed this above the altar, the wise one should place the planets and the lords of the worlds in all directions, according to the mantras. He should establish the tortoise and others in the center, relying on the Varuna mantra, and also place Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu there, being learned. “Vinayaka and the lotus-born Ambika should be installed, and for the peace of all worlds, the host of spirits should be placed. After performing the consecration with flowers, food, and fruits, surround the water-filled pots with cloths. Adorn the doorkeepers all around with flowers and fragrances; the teacher should instruct them to recite and then honor them. “Place the Rig Veda reciters in the east, the Yajur Veda reciters in the south, the Sama Veda reciters in the west, and the Atharva Veda reciters in the north. Facing north, the sacrificer should sit to the south; he should instruct the cleansed ones to perform the sacrifice again. The mantra-chanters, excellent in recitation, should stand. After instructing them, the knower of mantras should sprinkle them all and the fire. “Offer oblations with Varuna mantras, as well as ghee and kindling. Then, the priests should make offerings everywhere with Varuna mantras. Offerings should be made according to the rules to the planets, then to Indra, the lord, to the Maruts, to the guardians of the worlds, and to Vishvakarma. “The Rig Veda reciters should separately recite the Night Hymn, the Rudra Hymn, the Purifying Hymn, the Auspicious Hymn, and the Purusha Hymn in the east. The Yajur Veda reciters in the south should recite the Indra Hymn, the Rudra Hymn, the Soma Hymn, the Kushmanda Hymn, the Jatavedas Hymn, and the Sun Hymn. The Viraj Hymn, the Purusha Hymn, the Golden Hymn, the Rudra Collection, the Childhood Hymn, the Five Deaths Hymn, the Gayatri Hymn, and the Jyestha Sama should also be recited. “The Sama Veda singers, stationed at the western gate, should sing the Vamadeva Hymn, the Brihat Sama, the Raurava, the Sarathantara, the Cow’s Vow, the Kanva Hymn, the Rakshoghna, and the Vayasa Hymn, O King. The Atharva Veda reciters in the north should mentally recite the hymns for peace and nourishment, relying upon the deity Varuna, the lord. “On the previous day or at night, having thus performed the consecration, clay should be taken from the meeting place of elephants, horses, roads, anthills, lakes, and cow pens, and placed in the pots from the four directions. A bath should be performed for it with rocanā, siddhārthā, fragrant substances, and guggulu, together with the five products of the cow. Each item should be consecrated with great mantras according to the prescribed procedure. Thus, the night is passed with the ritual performed as directed.” In this way, Viṣṇu imparted the sacred tradition, describing the detailed and reverent procedure for the ritual, as preserved by the wise and recited by those learned in the Vedas.