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.
जुहुयाद्वारुणैर्मन्त्रैर् आज्यं च समिधस्तथा ऋत्विग्भिश्चाथ होतव्यं वारुणैरेव सर्वतः
He should offer oblations with Varuna mantras, as well as ghee and kindling; then, the priests should make offerings everywhere with Varuna mantras.
ग्रहेभ्यो विधिवद्धुत्वा तथेन्द्रायेश्वराय च मरुद्भ्यो लोकपालेभ्यो विधिवद्विश्वकर्मणे
Having offered according to the rules to the planets, then to Indra, the lord, to the Maruts, to the guardians of the worlds, and to Vishvakarma.
रात्रिसूक्तं च रौद्रं च पावमानं सुमङ्गलम् जपेयुः पौरुषं सूक्तं पूर्वतो बह्वृचः पृथक्
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.
शाक्रं रौद्रं च सौम्यं च कूष्माण्डं जातवेदसम् सौरसूक्तं जपेन्मन्त्रं दक्षिणेन यजुर्विदः
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.
वैराज्यं पौरुषं सूक्तं सौवर्णं रुद्रसंहिताम् शैशवं पञ्चनिधनं गायत्रं ज्येष्ठसाम च
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.
वामदेव्यं बृहत्साम रौरवं सरथंतरम् गवां व्रतं च काण्वं च रक्षोघ्नं वयसस्तथा गायेयुः सामगा राजन् पश्चिमं द्वारमाश्रिताः
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.
अथर्वणश्चोत्तरतः शान्तिकं पौष्टिकं तथा जपेयुर्मनसा देवम् आश्रित्य वरुणं प्रभुम्
The Atharva Veda reciters in the north should mentally recite the hymns for peace and nourishment, relying upon the deity Varuna, the lord.
पूर्वेद्युरमितो रात्राव् एवं कृत्वाधिवासनम् गजाश्वरथ्यावल्मीकात् संगमाद्ध्रदगोकुलात् मृदमादाय कुम्भेषु प्रक्षिपेच्चत्वरात्तथा
On the previous day or at night, having thus performed the consecration, he should take clay from the meeting place of elephants, horses, roads, anthills, lakes, and cow pens, and place it in the pots from the four directions.
रोचनां च ससिद्धार्थां गन्धं गुग्गुलमेव च स्नपनं तस्य कर्तव्यं पञ्चगव्यसमन्वितम्
A bath should be performed for it with rocanā, siddhārthā, fragrant substances, and guggulu, together with the five products of the cow.
प्रत्येकं तु महामन्त्रैर् एव कृत्वा विधानतः एवं क्षपातिवाह्याथ विधियुक्तेन कर्मणा
Each item should be consecrated with great mantras according to the prescribed procedure; thus, the night is passed with the ritual performed as directed.