त्रैलोक्याधिपतिर्भूत्वा सप्तकल्पशतत्रयम्। चंद्रलोकमवाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
Having become lord of the three worlds for three hundred seven kalpas, one attains the world of the moon, where return is difficult.
नारी वा रोहिणीचंद्रशयनं या समाचरेत्। सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
A woman who performs the Rohini-moon bed ceremony also attains that result, where return is difficult.
इति पठति शृणोति वा य इत्थं मधुमथनार्चनमिंदुकीर्तनेन। मतिमपि च ददाति सोपि शौरेर्भवनगतः परिपूज्यतेमरौघैः
Whoever recites or hears thus the worship of Madhumathana with praise of the moon, and also gives his mind, he too, entering the abode of Shauri, is worshipped by crowds of gods.
भीष्म उवाच। तटाकारामकूपेषु वापीषु नलिनीषु च। विधिं वदस्व मे ब्रह्मन्देवतायतनेषु च
Bhishma said: In tanks, gardens, wells, reservoirs, and lotus ponds, tell me the procedure, O Brahman, in temples of the gods.
के तत्र ऋत्विजो विप्रा वेदी वा कीदृशी भवेत्। दक्षिणाबलयः कालः स्थानमाचार्य एव च
Who are the officiating priests there, what kind of Brahmins, what should the altar be like; what are the gifts, the strength, the time, the place, and the teacher?
द्रव्याणि कानि शस्तानि सर्वमाचक्ष्व सुव्रत। पुलस्त्य उवाच। शृणु राजन्महाबाहो तटाकादिषु यो विधिः
What materials are suitable? Tell me everything, O virtuous one. Pulastya said: Listen, O king of great arms, to the procedure for tanks and the like.
पुराणेष्वितिहासोयं पठ्यते राजसत्तम। प्राप्य पक्षं शुभं शुक्लं संप्राप्ते चोत्तरायणे
This legend is recited in the Puranas, O best of kings; having obtained an auspicious fortnight, when the northern solstice has arrived.
पुण्येह्नि विप्रैः कथिते कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम्। अशुभैर्वर्जिते देशे तटाकस्य समीपतः
On a holy day declared by Brahmins, having performed Brahmin recitation, in a place free from inauspiciousness, near the tank.
चतुर्हस्तां समां वेदीं चतुरश्रां चतुर्मुखीम्। तथा षोडशहस्तः स्यान्मंडपश्च चतुर्मुखः
The altar should be four hands in size, square, and four-faced; likewise, the pavilion should be sixteen hands, and also four-faced.
वेद्यास्तु परितो गर्तारत्निमात्रास्त्रिमेखलाः। नव सप्ताथ वा पंच ऋजुवक्त्रा नृपात्मज
Around the altar, there should be trenches of a cubit's width, three girdles; nine, seven, or five, straight-faced, O prince.
वितस्तिमात्रा योनिः स्यात्षट्सप्तांगुलि विस्तृता। गर्ताश्च हस्तमात्राः स्युस्त्रिपर्वोच्छ्रितमेखलाः
The yoni should be a span in size, six or seven fingers wide; the trenches should be a hand's breadth, and the three girdles raised.
सर्वतस्तु सवर्णाः स्युः पताकाध्वजसंयुताः। अश्वत्थोदुंबरप्लक्षवटशाखाकृतानि तु
All should be of the same color, adorned with flags and banners; made from branches of ashvattha, udumbara, plaksha, and banyan trees.
मंडपस्य प्रतिदिशं द्वाराण्येतानि कारयेत्। शुभास्तत्राष्टहोतारो द्वारपालास्तथाष्ट वै
He should construct entrances on every side of the pavilion; there, eight auspicious officiating priests and likewise eight doorkeepers are to be appointed.
अष्टौ तु जापकाः कार्या ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णान्मंत्रज्ञान्विजितेंद्रियान्
Eight reciters should be engaged—Brahmins accomplished in the Vedas, endowed with all auspicious marks, knowledgeable in mantras, and with senses under control.
कुलशीलसमायुक्तान्स्थापयेद्वै द्विजोत्तमान्। प्रतिगर्तेषु कलशा यज्ञोपकरणानि च
He should appoint excellent twice-born men who possess noble lineage and conduct; in the surrounding trenches, place water pots and sacrificial implements.
व्यजने चासनं शुभ्रं ताम्रपात्रं सुविस्तरम्। ततस्त्वनेकवर्णास्युर्बलयः प्रतिदैवतम्
A clean seat, a fan, and a broad copper vessel should be set out; then, various offerings are to be made for each deity.
आचार्यः प्रक्षिपेद्भूमावनुमंत्र्य विचक्षणः। अरत्निमात्रो यूपः स्यात्क्षीरवृक्षविनिर्मितः
The wise teacher, having taken counsel, should place the sacrificial post on the ground; it should be a cubit in height and made from a milky tree.
यजमानप्रमाणो वा संस्थाप्यो भूतिमिच्छता। हेमालंकारिणः कार्याः पंचविंशति ऋत्विजः
Or, it should be according to the measure of the sacrificer, for one desiring prosperity; twenty-five officiating priests adorned with gold ornaments are to be appointed.
कुंडलानि च हैमानि केयूरकटकानि च। तथांगुलिपवित्राणि वासांसि विविधानि च
Golden earrings, armlets, and bracelets, as well as rings and various garments, should be given.
दद्यात्समानि सर्वेषामाचार्ये द्विगुणं स्मृतम्। दद्याच्छय(प)नसंयुक्तमात्मनश्चापि यत्प्रियम्
He should give equal gifts to all, and to the teacher, it is prescribed to give double; he should also give what is pleasing to himself, along with a bed and a parasol.
सौवर्णौ कूर्ममकरौ राजतौ मत्स्यडुण्डुभौ। ताम्रौ कुंभीरमंडूका वायसः शिंशुमारकः
A golden tortoise and crocodile, a silver fish and drum, a copper pot, frog, crow, and porpoise are to be provided.
एवमासाद्य तत्सर्वमादावेव विशांपते। शुक्लमाल्याम्बरधरः शुक्लंगंधानुलेपनः
Having thus procured all these at the outset, O lord of men, the sacrificer, clad in white garlands and garments, anointed with white sandal paste,
सर्वौषध्युदकैः सर्वैः स्नापितो वेदपारगैः। यजमानः सपत्नीकः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः
Bathed with all medicinal waters by those versed in the Vedas, the sacrificer, together with his wife, sons, and grandsons,
पश्चिमद्वारमासाद्य प्रविशेद्यागमंडपम्। ततो मंगलशब्देन भेरीणां निःस्वनेन च
Approaching the western entrance, should enter the sacrificial pavilion; then, with auspicious sounds and the booming of drums,
रजसा मंडलं कुर्यात्पंचवर्णेन तत्त्ववित्। षोडशारं ततश्चक्रं पद्मगर्भं चतुर्मुखम्
One who knows the principles should make a mandala with colored powders of five hues; then, a sixteen-spoked wheel, a lotus-center with four faces.
चतुरश्रं तु परितो वृत्तं मध्ये सुशोभनम्। वेद्याश्चोपरितः कृत्वा ग्रहान्लोकपतींस्ततः
All around, a square, and in the middle, a beautiful circle; above the altar, he should place the planetary deities and the guardians of the worlds.
संन्यसेन्मंत्रतः सर्वान्प्रतिदिक्षु विचक्षणः। कलशं स्थापयेन्मध्ये वारुणं मंत्रमाश्रितम्
The wise one should install all these in every direction with mantras; in the center, he should set the water pot consecrated with the Varuna mantra.
ब्रह्माणं च शिवं विष्णुं तत्रैव स्थापयेद्बुधः। विनायकं च विन्यस्य कमलामंबिकां तथा
There, the learned should establish Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, as well as Vinayaka, Kamala, and Ambika.
शांत्यर्थं सर्वलोकानां भूतग्रामं न्यसेत्ततः। पुष्पभक्ष्यफलैर्युक्तमेवं कृत्वाधिवासनम्
For the peace of all worlds, he should then install the host of beings, furnished with flowers, food, and fruits, thus completing the consecration.
कुंभांश्च रत्नगर्भांस्तान्वासोभिः परिवेष्टयेत्। पुष्पगंधैरलंकृत्य द्वारपालान्समंततः
He should wrap the jewel-filled pots with cloths, adorn the doorkeepers all around with flowers and fragrances.