यामैः शुक्लैर्जयैश्चैव सर्वसाधनसंभृतैः विश्वसृड्भिस् तथा सार्धं देवेन्द्रेण महौजसा स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे देवैस् ते यज्ञाः प्राक्प्रवर्तिताः
In the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, sacrifices were first performed by the creators of the universe, together with the mighty Indra, using all the necessary means, with white-clad priests, victorious rites, and all required materials.
सत्यं जपस्तपो दानं पूर्वधर्मो य उच्यते यदा धर्मस्य ह्रसते शाखाधर्मस्य वर्धते
Truthfulness, recitation, austerity, and charity are said to be the original dharma; when dharma declines, the branch-dharma increases.
जायन्ते च तदा शूरा आयुष्मन्तो महाबलाः न्यस्तदण्डा महायोगा यज्वानो ब्रह्मवादिनः
Then are born heroes, long-lived and mighty, who have laid aside the rod of punishment, are great yogis, performers of sacrifice, and speakers of Brahman.
पद्मपत्त्रायताक्षाश्च पृथुवक्त्राः सुसंहताः सिंहोरस्का महासत्त्वा मत्तमातंगगामिनः
They have eyes like lotus petals, broad faces, well-built bodies, lion-like chests, great strength, and walk like intoxicated elephants.
महाधनुर्धराश्चैव त्रेतायां चक्रवर्तिनः सर्वलक्षणपूर्णास्ते न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलाः
In the Tretā Yuga, the universal emperors are great archers, perfect in all marks, and have bodies shaped like the spreading banyan tree.
न्यग्रोधौ तु स्मृतौ बाहू व्यामो न्यग्रोध उच्यते व्यामेन सूच्छ्रयो यस्य अत ऊर्ध्वं तु देहिनः समुच्छ्रयः परीणाहो न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलः
In tradition, the arms are called 'banyan-like'; a 'vyāma' is the measure of a banyan; whoever's height is by that measure, their bodily height and girth are said to be like the circumference of a banyan.
चक्रं रथो मणिर्भार्या निधिरश्वो गजस्तथा प्रोक्तानि सप्त रत्नानि पूर्वं स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे
The seven jewels are said to be: the discus, the chariot, the jewel, the wife, the treasure, the horse, and the elephant, in the former Svāyambhuva Manvantara.
विष्णोरंशेन जायन्ते पृथिव्यां चक्रवर्तिनः मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु ह्य् अतीतानागतेषु वै
Universal emperors are born on earth in every Manvantara, past and future, by a portion of Viṣṇu.
भूतभव्यानि यानीह वर्तमानानि यानि च त्रेतायुगानि तेष्वत्र जायन्ते चक्रवर्तिनः
Whatever has existed, exists, or will exist here, in the Tretā Yugas, in all of them, universal emperors are born.
भद्राणीमानि तेषां च विभाव्यन्ते महीक्षिताम् अत्यद्भुतानि चत्वारि बलं धर्मं सुखं धनम्
Among those kings, these four auspicious and most wondrous things are manifested: strength, righteousness, happiness, and wealth.
अन्योन्यस्याविरोधेन प्राप्यन्ते नृपतेः समम् अर्थो धर्मश्च कामश्च यशो विजय एव च
Without mutual conflict, a king attains equally wealth, righteousness, desire, fame, and victory.
ऐश्वर्येणाणिमाद्येन प्रभुशक्तिबलान्विताः श्रुतेन तपसा चैव ऋषींस्ते ऽभिभवन्ति हि
Endowed with lordly powers such as sovereignty and the like, strength, and might, and through knowledge and austerity, they surpass even the seers.
बलेनाभिभवन्त्येते तेन दानवमानवान् लक्षणैश्चैव जायन्ते शरीरस्थैरमानुषैः
By their strength, they overcome both Dānavas and men; and they are born with bodily marks that are human in form.
केशाः स्थिता ललाटेन जिह्वा च परिमार्जनी श्यामप्रभाश्चतुर्दंष्ट्राः सुवंशाश्चोर्ध्वरेतसः
Their hair is set on the forehead, their tongue is cleansing, they are dark in complexion, have four fangs, are of noble lineage, and have upward-flowing energy.
आजानुबाहवश्चैव तालहस्तौ वृषाकृती परिणाहप्रमाणाभ्यां सिंहस्कन्धाश्च मेधिनः
Their arms reach to the knees, their hands are like palm leaves, they are bull-like in form, their chest and girth are measured, and they have lion-like shoulders, O ruler of the earth.
पादयोश्चक्रमत्स्यौ तु शङ्खपद्मे च हस्तयोः पञ्चाशीतिसहस्राणि जीवन्ति ह्यजरामयाः
On their feet are marks of the discus and fish, on their hands the conch and lotus; they live for eighty-five thousand years, free from old age and disease.
असङ्गा गतयस्तेषां चतस्रश्चक्रवर्तिनाम् अन्तरिक्षे समुद्रेषु पाताले पर्वतेषु च
The movements of those four universal emperors are unimpeded: in the sky, in the oceans, in the netherworlds, and in the mountains.
इज्या दानं तपः सत्यं त्रेताधर्मास्तु वै स्मृताः तदा प्रवर्तते धर्मो वर्णाश्रमविभागशः मर्यादास्थापनार्थं च दण्डनीतिः प्रवर्तते
Sacrifice, charity, austerity, and truth are declared to be the dharmas of the Tretā Yuga; then dharma is practiced according to the division of classes and stages of life, and for the establishment of order, the rule of punishment is set in motion.
हृष्टपुष्टा जनाः सर्वे अरोगाः पूर्णमानसाः एको वेदश्चतुष्पादस् त्रेतायां तु विधिः स्मृतः त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि जीवन्ते तत्र ताः प्रजाः
All people are joyful and strong, free from disease and fully content in mind. In the Tretā Age, the Veda is said to have four parts, and the rule is that the people live for three thousand years.
पुत्रपौत्रसमाकीर्णा म्रियन्ते च क्रमेण ताः एष त्रेतायुगे भावस् त्रेतासंख्यां निबोधत
Surrounded by sons and grandsons, they die in due order. Such is the condition in the Tretā Age; now listen to the reckoning of Tretā.
त्रेतायुगस्वभावेन संध्यापादेन वर्तते संध्यापादः स्वभावाच्च यो ऽंशः पादेन तिष्ठति
By the nature of the Tretā Age, it proceeds with one foot in the twilight period; and by its own nature, a portion remains established as one foot.
कथं त्रेतायुगमुखे यज्ञस्यासीत्प्रवर्तनम् पूर्वे स्वायम्भुवे सर्गे यथावत्प्रब्रवीहि नः
How, at the beginning of the Tretā Age, was the performance of sacrifice set in motion? Tell us properly, as it was in the former Svāyambhuva creation.
अन्तर्हितायां संध्यायां सार्धं कृतयुगेन हि कालाख्यायां प्रवृत्तायां प्राप्ते त्रेतायुगे तदा
When the twilight period had disappeared, along with the Kṛta Age, and the period called Time had begun, then the Tretā Age arrived.
ओषधीषु च जातासु प्रवृत्ते वृष्टिसर्जने प्रतिष्ठितायां वार्त्तायां ग्रामेषु च पुरेषु च
When plants had arisen, when the sending of rain had commenced, and when livelihood was established in villages and cities,
वर्णाश्रमप्रतिष्ठानं कृत्वा मन्त्रैश्च तैः पुनः संहितास्तु सुसंहृत्य कथं यज्ञः प्रवर्तितः एतच्छ्रुत्वाब्रवीत्सूतः श्रूयतां तत्प्रचोदितम्
After establishing the system of classes and stages of life, and again arranging the mantras, how was sacrifice set in motion? Having heard this, Sūta spoke: listen to what was prompted.
मन्त्रान्वै योजयित्वा तु इहामुत्र च कर्मसु तथा विश्वभुगिन्द्रस्तु यज्ञं प्रावर्तयत्प्रभुः
Having applied the mantras to actions here and hereafter, thus the lord Viśvabhuk Indra set the sacrifice in motion.
दैवतैः सह संहृत्य सर्वसाधनसंवृतः तस्याश्वमेधे वितते समाजग्मुर्महर्षयः
Gathering together with the gods, equipped with all the necessary means, at his great horse sacrifice, the great sages assembled.
यज्ञकर्मण्यवर्तन्त कर्मण्यग्रे तथर्त्विजः हूयमाने देवहोत्रे अग्नौ बहुविधं हविः
At the beginning of the sacrificial act, the officiating priests performed their duties; various offerings were poured into the fire dedicated to the gods.
सम्प्रतीतेषु देवेषु सामगेषु च सुस्वरम् परिक्रान्तेषु लघुषु अध्वर्युपुरुषेषु च
When the gods had arrived, and the singers of Sāma chanted melodiously, and the swift Adhvaryu priests moved about,
आलब्धेषु च मध्ये तु तथा पशुगणेषु वै आहूतेषु च देवेषु यज्ञभुक्षु ततस्तदा
When the middle offerings had been taken, and likewise the herds of animals, and when the gods who partake of the sacrifice had been summoned,