आथर्वणाश्चोत्तरतः शांतिकं पौष्टिकं तथा। जपेयुर्मनसा देवमाश्रिता वरुणं प्रभुम्
The Atharva Veda chanters to the north should mentally recite the Shanti and Pushti hymns, having taken refuge in the deity Varuna, the Lord.
पूर्वे द्युरभितो रात्रावेवं कृत्वाधिवासनम्। गजाश्वरथवल्मीक संगमाद्व्रजगोकुलात्
Having thus performed the installation at dawn and dusk, from the meeting place of elephants, horses, chariots, and anthills, from the cow settlement—
मृदमादाय कुंभेषु प्रक्षिपेदोषधीस्तथा। रोचनां च ससिद्धार्थां गंधान्गुग्गुलुमेव च
He should take earth and place it in pots, along with medicinal herbs; also rocanā with siddhārtha, fragrances, and guggulu.
स्नापनं तस्य कर्त्तव्यं पंचगव्यसमन्वितं। पूर्वं कर्तुर्महामंत्रैरेवं कृत्वा विधानतः
He should perform the bathing with the mixture of five products from the cow; first, the performer should do so with great mantras, thus following the prescribed procedure.
अतिवाह्य क्षपामेवं विधियुक्तेन कर्मणा। ततः प्रभाते विमले संजाते तु शतं गवां
Having spent the night thus, performing the ritual according to the rules, then, at dawn when purity arises, a hundred cows are to be—
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदातव्यमष्टषष्ट्यथवा पुनः। पंचाशद्वाथ षट्त्रिंशत्पंचविंशति वा पुनः
Given to the Brahmins, or sixty-eight, or again fifty, or thirty-six, or twenty-five, as appropriate.
ततश्चावसरप्राप्ते शुद्धे लग्ने सुशोभने। वेदशब्दैः सगंधर्वैर्वाद्यैश्च विविधैः पुनः
Then, when the proper moment arrives, at an auspicious and pure time, accompanied by Vedic chants, Gandharva songs, and various musical instruments—
कनकालंकृतां कृत्वा जले गामवतारयेत्। सामगाय च सा देया ब्राह्मणाय विशांपते
Having adorned the cow with gold, he should lead her into the water; she is to be given to the Sama chanter, and to the Brahmin, O lord of the people.
पात्रीमादाय सौवर्णी पंचरत्नसमन्विताम्। ततो निक्षिप्य मकरान्मत्स्यादींश्चैव सर्वशः
Taking a vessel made of gold, adorned with five gems, then placing within it all kinds of aquatic creatures such as crocodiles and fish,
धृतां चतुर्भिर्विप्रैश्च वेदवेदांगपारगैः। महानदीजलोपेतां दध्यक्षतविभूषिताम्
held by four Brahmins who are accomplished in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, filled with water from a great river, and decorated with curds and unbroken grains,
उत्तराभिमुखां न्युब्जां जलमध्ये तु कारयेत्। आथर्वणेन सुस्नातां पुनर्मायां तथैव च
one should set it facing north, immersed in water, and perform the ritual with the Atharvaṇa mantra, having bathed thoroughly, and again with the Māyā mantra likewise.
आपोहिष्ठेति मंत्रेण क्षिप्त्वागत्य च मंडपं। पूजयित्वा सदस्यान्वै बलिं दद्यात्समंततः
Reciting the mantra 'āpohiṣṭha', after placing it and returning to the pavilion, one should worship the assembly and then offer oblations all around.
पुनर्दिनानि होतव्यं चत्वारि राजसत्तम। चतुर्थीकर्म कर्त्तव्यं देयं तत्रापि शक्तितः1.27.
Again, O best of kings, offerings must be made for four days; the fourth day's ritual should be performed, and gifts given there as one is able.
कृत्वा तु यज्ञपात्राणि यज्ञोपकरणानि च। ऋत्विग्भ्यस्तु समं दद्यान्मंडपं विभजेत्पुनः
Having prepared the sacrificial vessels and implements, one should distribute them equally among the officiating priests and then divide the pavilion once more.
हेमपात्रीं च शय्यां च विप्राय च निवेदयेत्। ततः सहस्रं विप्राणामथवाऽष्टशतं तथा
A golden vessel and a bed should be presented to a Brahmin; then, a thousand Brahmins, or else eight hundred,
भोजनीयं यथाशक्ति पंचाशद्वाथ विंशतिः। एवमेष पुराणेषु तटाकविधिरुच्यते
should be fed according to one's capacity, fifty or twenty; thus, this is the procedure for tanks as told in the Purāṇas.
कूपवापीषु सर्वासु तथा पुष्करिणीषु च। एष एव विधिर्दृष्टः प्रतिष्ठासु तथैव च
The same procedure is prescribed for wells, reservoirs, and lotus ponds, and likewise for consecrations.
मंत्रतस्तु विशेषः स्यात्प्रासादोद्यानभूमिषु। अयं त्वशक्तावर्धेन विधिर्दृष्टः स्वयंभुवा
But there is a special mantra for temples and garden grounds; this procedure, according to one's ability, is prescribed by the Self-born.
स्वल्पेष्वेकाग्निवत्कार्यो वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितैः। प्रावृट्काले स्थितं तोयमग्निष्टोमसमं स्मृतम्
For small ones, it should be performed like a single-fire rite, by those free from miserliness; water present in the rainy season is considered equal to the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
शरत्कालस्थितं यत्स्यात्तदुक्तफलदायकम्। वाजपेयातिरात्राभ्यां हेमंते शिशिरे स्थितम्
Water present in the autumn season yields the stated fruits; in winter and cold season, with Vājapeya and Atirātra rites,
अश्वमेधसमं प्राहुर्वसंतसमये स्थितम्। ग्रीष्मेपि यत्स्थितं तोयं राजसूयाद्विशिष्यते
they say it equals the Aśvamedha sacrifice when present in spring; and water present in summer surpasses the Rājasūya.
एतान्महाराज विशेषधर्मान्करोति चोर्व्यामतिशुद्धबुद्धिः। स याति ब्रह्मालयमेव शुद्धः कल्पाननेकान्दिवि मोदते च
O great king, whoever performs these special duties on earth with a mind of utmost purity, he attains the abode of Brahmā, pure, and enjoys countless ages in heaven.
अनेकलोकान्विचरन्स्वरादीन्भुक्त्वा परार्धद्वयमङ्गनाभिः। सहैव विष्णोः परमं पदं यत्प्राप्नोति तद्योगबलेन भूयः
Roaming through many worlds, enjoying the realms of heaven and others for two parārdhas with celestial women, he then attains the supreme abode of Viṣṇu by the power of yoga.
भीष्म उवाच। पादपानां विधिं ब्रह्मन्यथावद्विस्तराद्वद। विधिना येन कर्त्तव्यं पादपारोपणं बुधैः
Bhīṣma said: O Brahman, explain in detail the procedure for trees, and by what method wise men should perform the planting of trees.
ये च लोकाः स्मृता येषां तानिदानीं वदस्व मे। पुलस्त्य उवाच। पादपानां विधिं वक्ष्ये तथैवोद्यानभूमिषु
And tell me now about the worlds remembered for them. Pulastya said: I will explain the procedure for trees, and likewise for garden grounds.
तटाकविधिवत्सर्वं समाप्य जगतीश्वर। ऋत्विङ्मंडपसंभारमाचार्यं चापि तद्विधं
O Lord of the world, all is to be done as in the procedure for tanks, including the arrangement of officiating priests, pavilion, and teacher of that kind.
पूजयेद्ब्राह्मणांस्तद्वद्धेमवस्त्रानुलेपनैः। सर्वौषध्युदकैः सिक्तान्दध्यक्षतविभूषितान्
He should worship the Brahmins likewise, with gold, garments, and ointments, sprinkling them with all medicinal waters, adorned with curds, unbroken grains, and ornaments.
वृक्षान्माल्यैरलंकृत्य वासोभिरभिवेष्टयेत्। सूच्या सौवर्णया कार्यं सर्वेषां कर्णवेधनं
He should decorate the trees with garlands and wrap them in cloths; for all, ear-piercing should be performed with a golden needle.
अंजनं चापि दातव्यं तद्वद्धेमशलाकया। फलानि सप्त चाष्टौ वा कालधौतानि कारयेत्
Collyrium should also be given, likewise with a golden stick; seven or eight fruits, cleansed in due time, should be prepared.
प्रत्येकं सर्ववृक्षाणां वेद्यांतान्यधिवासयेत्। धूपोत्र गुग्गुलुः श्रेष्ठस्ताम्रपात्रेष्वधिष्ठितान्
For each and every tree, he should place offerings at the altar; the best incense is guggulu, set in copper vessels.