जलाशयगतं विष्णुम् उवाच रविनन्दनः तडागारामकूपानां वापीषु नलिनीषु च
Ravi’s descendant spoke to Viṣṇu, who dwells in water: In ponds, gardens, wells, reservoirs, and lotus pools—
विधिं पृच्छामि देवेशे देवतायतनेषु च के तत्र चर्त्विजो नाथ वेदी वा कीदृशी भवेत्
I ask about the procedure, O Lord of gods, and in temples of the gods: Who are the officiating priests there, O master, and what kind of altar should there be?
दक्षिणावलयः कालः स्थानमाचार्य एव च द्रव्याणि कानि शस्तानि सर्वमाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः
Tell me in detail, what is the proper time, direction, place, the teacher, and which materials are best for this—explain everything truly.
शृणु राजन्महाबाहो तडागादिषु यो विधिः पुराणेष्वितिहासो ऽयं पठ्यते वेदवादिभिः
Hear, O king of mighty arms, the procedure regarding tanks and the like, as related in the Purāṇas—this is the tradition recited by those learned in the Vedas.
प्राप्य पक्षं शुभं शुक्लम् अतीते चोत्तरायणे पुण्ये ऽह्नि विप्रकथिते कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम्
Having obtained an auspicious bright fortnight, after the sun has entered the northern course, on a holy day declared by the Brāhmaṇas, one should perform the rite.
प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे तडागस्य समीपतः चतुर्हस्तां शुभां वेदीं चतुरस्रां चतुर्मुखाम्
In a land sloping to the east or north, near the tank, one should make a pure altar, four cubits in size, square, and with four sides.
तथा षोडशहस्तः स्यान् मण्डपश्च चतुर्मुखः वेद्याश्च परितो गर्ता रत्निमात्रास्त्रिमेखलाः
Likewise, the pavilion should be sixteen cubits, square, and four-sided; around the altar, three trenches, each a cubit wide, should be made.
नव सप्ताथ वा पञ्च नातिरिक्ता नृपात्मज वितस्तिमात्रा योनिः स्यात् षट्सप्ताङ्गुलिविस्तृता
Let there be nine, seven, or five—no more, O prince—each trench a span in width, and the yoni (pit) should be six or seven fingers broad.
गर्ताश्च तत्र सप्त स्युस् त्रिपर्वोच्छ्रितमेखलाः सर्वतस्तु सवर्णाः स्युः पताकाध्वजसंयुताः
There, let there be seven trenches, each with three raised embankments, all of the same color everywhere, adorned with banners and flags.
अश्वत्थोदुम्बरप्लक्षवटशाखाकृतानि तु मण्डपस्य प्रतिदिशं द्वाराण्येतानि कारयेत्
The doors of the pavilion should be made in each direction, fashioned from branches of the aśvattha, udumbara, plakṣa, and vaṭa trees.
शुभास्तत्राष्ट होतारो द्वारपालास्तथाष्ट वै अष्टौ तु जापकाः कार्या ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
There, eight auspicious priests should be appointed, and likewise eight doorkeepers; eight reciters, Brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas, should also be engaged.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पूर्णो मन्त्रविद्विजितेन्द्रियः कुलशीलसमायुक्तः पुरोधाः स्याद्द्विजोत्तमः
The chief priest should be a foremost Brāhmaṇa, complete in all marks, skilled in mantras, self-controlled, and endowed with noble family and conduct.
प्रतिगर्तेषु कलशी यज्ञोपकरणानि च व्यजनं चामरे शुभ्रे ताम्रपात्रे सुविस्तृते
In each trench, place water vessels and sacrificial implements, and a fan of white yak-tail, all set in a broad copper vessel.
ततस्त्वनेकवर्णाः स्युश् चरवः प्रतिदैवतम् आचार्यः प्रक्षिपेद्भूमाव् अनुमन्त्र्य विचक्षणः
Then, variously colored offering vessels should be prepared for each deity; the teacher, after due consideration, should place them on the ground.
त्र्यरत्निमात्रो यूपः स्यात् क्षारवृक्षविनिर्मितः यजमानप्रमाणो वा संस्थाप्यो भूतिमिच्छता
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.
हेमालंकारिणः कार्याः पञ्चविंशतिऋत्विजः कुण्डलानि च हैमानि केयूरकटकानि च
There should be twenty-five priests adorned with gold ornaments, with golden earrings, armlets, and bracelets.
तथाङ्गुल्यः पवित्राणि वासांसि विविधानि च पूजयेत्तु समं सर्वान् आचार्यो द्विगुणं पुनः दद्याच्छयनसंयुक्तम् आत्मनश्चापि यत्प्रियम्
Likewise, let them have rings, sacred threads, and various garments; the teacher should honor them all equally, and again give double, along with bedding and whatever else is dear to himself.
सौवर्णकूर्ममकरौ राजतौ मत्स्यदुन्दुभौ ताम्रौ कुलीरमण्डूकाव् आयसः शिशुमारकः एवमासाद्य तत्सर्वम् आदावेव विशां पते
A golden tortoise and makara, a silver fish and drum, a copper crab and frog, and an iron crocodile—having obtained all these at the beginning, O lord of the people.
शुक्लमाल्याम्बरधरः शुक्लगन्धानुलेपनः सर्वौषध्युदकैस्तत्र स्नापितो वेदपारगैः
Clad in white garlands and garments, anointed with white fragrant unguents, and bathed there with all medicinal waters by those learned in the Vedas.
यजमानः सपत्नीकः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः पश्चिमं द्वारमासाद्य प्रविशेद्यागमण्डपम्
The sacrificer, with his wife, sons, and grandsons, should approach the western door and enter the sacrificial pavilion.
ततो मङ्गलशब्देन भेरीणां निःस्वनेन च अञ्जसा मण्डलं कुर्यात् पञ्चवर्णेन तत्त्ववित्
Then, with auspicious sounds and the resonance of drums, the knower of the principles should swiftly create a mandala with five colors.
षोडशारं ततश्चक्रं पद्मगर्भं चतुर्मुखम् चतुरस्रं च परितो वृत्तं मध्ये सुशोभनम्
Next, a sixteen-spoked wheel, with a lotus center, four faces, and four sides all around, beautifully circular in the middle.
वेद्याश्चोपरि तत्कृत्वा ग्रहांल्लोकपतींस्ततः विन्यसेन्मन्त्रतः सर्वान् प्रतिदिक्षु विचक्षणः
Having made this above the altar, the wise one should place the planets and the lords of the worlds in all directions, according to the mantras.
कूर्मादि स्थापयेन्मध्ये वारुणं मन्त्रमाश्रितः ब्रह्माणं च शिवं विष्णुं तत्रैव स्थापयेद्बुधः
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.
विनायकं च विन्यस्य कमलामम्बिकां तथा शान्त्यर्थं सर्वलोकानां भूतग्रामं न्यसेत्ततः
He should install Vinayaka and the lotus-born Ambika, and for the peace of all worlds, then place the host of spirits.
पुष्पभक्ष्यफलैर्युक्तम् एवं कृत्वाधिवासनम् कुम्भान् सजलगर्भांस्तान् वासोभिः परिवेष्टयेत्
Having thus performed the consecration with flowers, food, and fruits, he should surround the water-filled pots with cloths.
पुष्पगन्धैरलंकृत्य द्वारपालान्समन्ततः पठध्वमिति तान्ब्रूयाद् आचार्यस्त्वभिपूजयेत्
Adorning the doorkeepers all around with flowers and fragrances, the teacher should instruct them to recite and then honor them.
बह्वृचौ पूर्वतः स्थाप्यौ दक्षिणेन यजुर्विदौ सामगौ पश्चिमे तद्वद् उत्तरेण त्वथर्वणौ
He should place the Rig Veda reciters in the east, the Yajur Veda reciters in the south, the Sama Veda reciters in the west, and likewise the Atharva Veda reciters in the north.
उदङ्मुखो दक्षिणतो यजमान उपाविशेत् यजध्वमिति तान्ब्रूयाद् धौत्रिकान्पुनरेव तु
Facing north, the sacrificer should sit to the south; he should instruct the cleansed ones to perform the sacrifice again.
उत्कृष्टान्मन्त्रजापेन तिष्ठध्वमिति जापकान् एवमादिश्य तान्सर्वान् पर्युक्ष्याग्निं स मन्त्रवित्
He should command the mantra-chanters, who are excellent in recitation, to stand; after instructing them thus, the knower of mantras should sprinkle them all and the fire.