Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 27
Sourceभीष्म उवाच। तटाकारामकूपेषु वापीषु नलिनीषु च। विधिं वदस्व मे ब्रह्मन्देवतायतनेषु च१। के तत्र ऋत्विजो विप्रा वेदी वा कीदृशी भवेत्। दक्षिणाबलयः कालः स्थानमाचार्य एव च२। द्रव्याणि कानि शस्तानि सर्वमाचक्ष्व सुव्रत। पुलस्त्य उवाच। शृणु राजन्महाबाहो तटाकादिषु यो विधिः३। पुराणेष्वितिहासोयं पठ्यते राजसत्तम। प्राप्य पक्षं शुभं शुक्लं संप्राप्ते चोत्तरायणे४। पुण्येह्नि विप्रैः कथिते कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम्। अशुभैर्वर्जिते देशे तटाकस्य समीपतः५। चतुर्हस्तां समां वेदीं चतुरश्रां चतुर्मुखीम्। तथा षोडशहस्तः स्यान्मंडपश्च चतुर्मुखः६। वेद्यास्तु परितो गर्तारत्निमात्रास्त्रिमेखलाः। नव सप्ताथ वा पंच ऋजुवक्त्रा नृपात्मज७। वितस्तिमात्रा योनिः स्यात्षट्सप्तांगुलि विस्तृता। गर्ताश्च हस्तमात्राः स्युस्त्रिपर्वोच्छ्रितमेखलाः८। सर्वतस्तु सवर्णाः स्युः पताकाध्वजसंयुताः। अश्वत्थोदुंबरप्लक्षवटशाखाकृतानि तु९। मंडपस्य प्रतिदिशं द्वाराण्येतानि कारयेत्। शुभास्तत्राष्टहोतारो द्वारपालास्तथाष्ट वै१०। अष्टौ तु जापकाः कार्या ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णान्मंत्रज्ञान्विजितेंद्रियान्११। कुलशीलसमायुक्तान्स्थापयेद्वै द्विजोत्तमान्। प्रतिगर्तेषु कलशा यज्ञोपकरणानि च१२। व्यजने चासनं शुभ्रं ताम्रपात्रं सुविस्तरम्। ततस्त्वनेकवर्णास्युर्बलयः प्रतिदैवतम्१३। आचार्यः प्रक्षिपेद्भूमावनुमंत्र्य विचक्षणः। अरत्निमात्रो यूपः स्यात्क्षीरवृक्षविनिर्मितः१४। यजमानप्रमाणो वा संस्थाप्यो भूतिमिच्छता। हेमालंकारिणः कार्याः पंचविंशति ऋत्विजः१५। कुंडलानि च हैमानि केयूरकटकानि च। तथांगुलिपवित्राणि वासांसि विविधानि च१६। दद्यात्समानि सर्वेषामाचार्ये द्विगुणं स्मृतम्। दद्याच्छय(प)नसंयुक्तमात्मनश्चापि यत्प्रियम्१७। सौवर्णौ कूर्ममकरौ राजतौ मत्स्यडुण्डुभौ। ताम्रौ कुंभीरमंडूका वायसः शिंशुमारकः१८। एवमासाद्य तत्सर्वमादावेव विशांपते। शुक्लमाल्याम्बरधरः शुक्लंगंधानुलेपनः१९। सर्वौषध्युदकैः सर्वैः स्नापितो वेदपारगैः। यजमानः सपत्नीकः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः२०। पश्चिमद्वारमासाद्य प्रविशेद्यागमंडपम्। ततो मंगलशब्देन भेरीणां निःस्वनेन च२१। रजसा मंडलं कुर्यात्पंचवर्णेन तत्त्ववित्। षोडशारं ततश्चक्रं पद्मगर्भं चतुर्मुखम्२२। चतुरश्रं तु परितो वृत्तं मध्ये सुशोभनम्। वेद्याश्चोपरितः कृत्वा ग्रहान्लोकपतींस्ततः२३। संन्यसेन्मंत्रतः सर्वान्प्रतिदिक्षु विचक्षणः। कलशं स्थापयेन्मध्ये वारुणं मंत्रमाश्रितम्२४। ब्रह्माणं च शिवं विष्णुं तत्रैव स्थापयेद्बुधः। विनायकं च विन्यस्य कमलामंबिकां तथा२५। शांत्यर्थं सर्वलोकानां भूतग्रामं न्यसेत्ततः। पुष्पभक्ष्यफलैर्युक्तमेवं कृत्वाधिवासनम्२६। कुंभांश्च रत्नगर्भांस्तान्वासोभिः परिवेष्टयेत्। पुष्पगंधैरलंकृत्य द्वारपालान्समंततः२७। यजद्ध्वमिति तान्ब्रूयादाचार्यमभिपूजयेत्। बह्वृचौ पूर्वतः स्थाप्यौ दक्षिणेन यजुर्विदौ२८। सामगौ पश्चिमे स्थाप्यावुत्तरेण अथर्वणौ। उदङ्मुखो दक्षिणतो यजमान उपाविशेत्२९। यजध्वमिति तान्ब्रूयाद्याजकान्पुनरेव तान्। उत्कृष्टमंत्रजाप्येन तिष्ठध्वमिति जापकान्३०। एवमादिश्य तान्सर्वान्संधुक्ष्याग्निं समंत्रवित्। जुहुयादाहुतीर्मंत्रैराज्यं च समिधस्तथा३१। ऋत्विग्भिश्चैव होतव्यं वारुणैरेव सर्वतः। ग्रहेभ्यो विधिवद्धुत्वा तथेंद्रायेश्वराय च३२। मरुद्भ्यो लोकपालेभ्यो विधिवद्विश्वकर्मणे। शान्तिसूक्तं च रौद्रं च पावमानं च मंगलम्३३। जपेच्च पौरुषं सूक्तं पूर्वतो बह्वृचः पृथक्। शाक्रं रौद्रं च सौम्यं च कौश्मांडं जातवेदसम्३४। सौरं सूक्तं जपेयुस्ते दक्षिणेन यजुर्विदः। वैराजं पौरुषं सूक्तं सौपर्णं रुद्रसंहितम्३५। शैशवं पंचनिधनं गायत्रं ज्येष्ठसाम च। वामदेव्यं बृहत्साम रौरवं च रथंतरम्३६। गवां व्रतं विकीर्णं च रक्षोघ्नं च यमं तथा। गायेयुः सामगा राजन्पश्चिमद्वारमाश्रिताः३७। आथर्वणाश्चोत्तरतः शांतिकं पौष्टिकं तथा। जपेयुर्मनसा देवमाश्रिता वरुणं प्रभुम्३८। पूर्वे द्युरभितो रात्रावेवं कृत्वाधिवासनम्। गजाश्वरथवल्मीक संगमाद्व्रजगोकुलात्३९। मृदमादाय कुंभेषु प्रक्षिपेदोषधीस्तथा। रोचनां च ससिद्धार्थां गंधान्गुग्गुलुमेव च४०। स्नापनं तस्य कर्त्तव्यं पंचगव्यसमन्वितं। पूर्वं कर्तुर्महामंत्रैरेवं कृत्वा विधानतः४१। अतिवाह्य क्षपामेवं विधियुक्तेन कर्मणा। ततः प्रभाते विमले संजाते तु शतं गवां४२। ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदातव्यमष्टषष्ट्यथवा पुनः। पंचाशद्वाथ षट्त्रिंशत्पंचविंशति वा पुनः४३। ततश्चावसरप्राप्ते शुद्धे लग्ने सुशोभने। वेदशब्दैः सगंधर्वैर्वाद्यैश्च विविधैः पुनः४४। कनकालंकृतां कृत्वा जले गामवतारयेत्। सामगाय च सा देया ब्राह्मणाय विशांपते४५। पात्रीमादाय सौवर्णी पंचरत्नसमन्विताम्। ततो निक्षिप्य मकरान्मत्स्यादींश्चैव सर्वशः४६। धृतां चतुर्भिर्विप्रैश्च वेदवेदांगपारगैः। महानदीजलोपेतां दध्यक्षतविभूषिताम्४७। उत्तराभिमुखां न्युब्जां जलमध्ये तु कारयेत्। आथर्वणेन सुस्नातां पुनर्मायां तथैव च४८। आपोहिष्ठेति मंत्रेण क्षिप्त्वागत्य च मंडपं। पूजयित्वा सदस्यान्वै बलिं दद्यात्समंततः४९। पुनर्दिनानि होतव्यं चत्वारि राजसत्तम। चतुर्थीकर्म कर्त्तव्यं देयं तत्रापि शक्तितः1.27.५०। कृत्वा तु यज्ञपात्राणि यज्ञोपकरणानि च। ऋत्विग्भ्यस्तु समं दद्यान्मंडपं विभजेत्पुनः५१। हेमपात्रीं च शय्यां च विप्राय च निवेदयेत्। ततः सहस्रं विप्राणामथवाऽष्टशतं तथा५२। भोजनीयं यथाशक्ति पंचाशद्वाथ विंशतिः। एवमेष पुराणेषु तटाकविधिरुच्यते५३। कूपवापीषु सर्वासु तथा पुष्करिणीषु च। एष एव विधिर्दृष्टः प्रतिष्ठासु तथैव च५४। मंत्रतस्तु विशेषः स्यात्प्रासादोद्यानभूमिषु। अयं त्वशक्तावर्धेन विधिर्दृष्टः स्वयंभुवा५५। स्वल्पेष्वेकाग्निवत्कार्यो वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितैः। प्रावृट्काले स्थितं तोयमग्निष्टोमसमं स्मृतम्५६। शरत्कालस्थितं यत्स्यात्तदुक्तफलदायकम्। वाजपेयातिरात्राभ्यां हेमंते शिशिरे स्थितम्५७। अश्वमेधसमं प्राहुर्वसंतसमये स्थितम्। ग्रीष्मेपि यत्स्थितं तोयं राजसूयाद्विशिष्यते५८। एतान्महाराज विशेषधर्मान्करोति चोर्व्यामतिशुद्धबुद्धिः। स याति ब्रह्मालयमेव शुद्धः कल्पाननेकान्दिवि मोदते च५९। अनेकलोकान्विचरन्स्वरादीन्भुक्त्वा परार्धद्वयमङ्गनाभिः। सहैव विष्णोः परमं पदं यत्प्राप्नोति तद्योगबलेन भूयः६०। इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे तटाकप्रतिष्ठाविधिर्नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः२७। ।
bhīṣma uvāca| taṭākārāmakūpeṣu vāpīṣu nalinīṣu ca| vidhiṃ vadasva me brahmandevatāyataneṣu ca1| ke tatra ṛtvijo viprā vedī vā kīdṛśī bhavet| dakṣiṇābalayaḥ kālaḥ sthānamācārya eva ca2| dravyāṇi kāni śastāni sarvamācakṣva suvrata| pulastya uvāca| śṛṇu rājanmahābāho taṭākādiṣu yo vidhiḥ3| purāṇeṣvitihāsoyaṃ paṭhyate rājasattama| prāpya pakṣaṃ śubhaṃ śuklaṃ saṃprāpte cottarāyaṇe4| puṇyehni vipraiḥ kathite kṛtvā brāhmaṇavācanam| aśubhairvarjite deśe taṭākasya samīpataḥ5| caturhastāṃ samāṃ vedīṃ caturaśrāṃ caturmukhīm| tathā ṣoḍaśahastaḥ syānmaṃḍapaśca caturmukhaḥ6| vedyāstu parito gartāratnimātrāstrimekhalāḥ| nava saptātha vā paṃca ṛjuvaktrā nṛpātmaja7| vitastimātrā yoniḥ syātṣaṭsaptāṃguli vistṛtā| gartāśca hastamātrāḥ syustriparvocchritamekhalāḥ8| sarvatastu savarṇāḥ syuḥ patākādhvajasaṃyutāḥ| aśvatthoduṃbaraplakṣavaṭaśākhākṛtāni tu9| maṃḍapasya pratidiśaṃ dvārāṇyetāni kārayet| śubhāstatrāṣṭahotāro dvārapālāstathāṣṭa vai10| aṣṭau tu jāpakāḥ kāryā brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ| sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpūrṇānmaṃtrajñānvijiteṃdriyān11| kulaśīlasamāyuktānsthāpayedvai dvijottamān| pratigarteṣu kalaśā yajñopakaraṇāni ca12| vyajane cāsanaṃ śubhraṃ tāmrapātraṃ suvistaram| tatastvanekavarṇāsyurbalayaḥ pratidaivatam13| ācāryaḥ prakṣipedbhūmāvanumaṃtrya vicakṣaṇaḥ| aratnimātro yūpaḥ syātkṣīravṛkṣavinirmitaḥ14| yajamānapramāṇo vā saṃsthāpyo bhūtimicchatā| hemālaṃkāriṇaḥ kāryāḥ paṃcaviṃśati ṛtvijaḥ15| kuṃḍalāni ca haimāni keyūrakaṭakāni ca| tathāṃgulipavitrāṇi vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca16| dadyātsamāni sarveṣāmācārye dviguṇaṃ smṛtam| dadyācchaya(pa)nasaṃyuktamātmanaścāpi yatpriyam17| sauvarṇau kūrmamakarau rājatau matsyaḍuṇḍubhau| tāmrau kuṃbhīramaṃḍūkā vāyasaḥ śiṃśumārakaḥ18| evamāsādya tatsarvamādāveva viśāṃpate| śuklamālyāmbaradharaḥ śuklaṃgaṃdhānulepanaḥ19| sarvauṣadhyudakaiḥ sarvaiḥ snāpito vedapāragaiḥ| yajamānaḥ sapatnīkaḥ putrapautrasamanvitaḥ20| paścimadvāramāsādya praviśedyāgamaṃḍapam| tato maṃgalaśabdena bherīṇāṃ niḥsvanena ca21| rajasā maṃḍalaṃ kuryātpaṃcavarṇena tattvavit| ṣoḍaśāraṃ tataścakraṃ padmagarbhaṃ caturmukham22| caturaśraṃ tu parito vṛttaṃ madhye suśobhanam| vedyāścoparitaḥ kṛtvā grahānlokapatīṃstataḥ23| saṃnyasenmaṃtrataḥ sarvānpratidikṣu vicakṣaṇaḥ| kalaśaṃ sthāpayenmadhye vāruṇaṃ maṃtramāśritam24| brahmāṇaṃ ca śivaṃ viṣṇuṃ tatraiva sthāpayedbudhaḥ| vināyakaṃ ca vinyasya kamalāmaṃbikāṃ tathā25| śāṃtyarthaṃ sarvalokānāṃ bhūtagrāmaṃ nyasettataḥ| puṣpabhakṣyaphalairyuktamevaṃ kṛtvādhivāsanam26| kuṃbhāṃśca ratnagarbhāṃstānvāsobhiḥ pariveṣṭayet| puṣpagaṃdhairalaṃkṛtya dvārapālānsamaṃtataḥ27| yajaddhvamiti tānbrūyādācāryamabhipūjayet| bahvṛcau pūrvataḥ sthāpyau dakṣiṇena yajurvidau28| sāmagau paścime sthāpyāvuttareṇa atharvaṇau| udaṅmukho dakṣiṇato yajamāna upāviśet29| yajadhvamiti tānbrūyādyājakānpunareva tān| utkṛṣṭamaṃtrajāpyena tiṣṭhadhvamiti jāpakān30| evamādiśya tānsarvānsaṃdhukṣyāgniṃ samaṃtravit| juhuyādāhutīrmaṃtrairājyaṃ ca samidhastathā31| ṛtvigbhiścaiva hotavyaṃ vāruṇaireva sarvataḥ| grahebhyo vidhivaddhutvā tatheṃdrāyeśvarāya ca32| marudbhyo lokapālebhyo vidhivadviśvakarmaṇe| śāntisūktaṃ ca raudraṃ ca pāvamānaṃ ca maṃgalam33| japecca pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ pūrvato bahvṛcaḥ pṛthak| śākraṃ raudraṃ ca saumyaṃ ca kauśmāṃḍaṃ jātavedasam34| sauraṃ sūktaṃ japeyuste dakṣiṇena yajurvidaḥ| vairājaṃ pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ sauparṇaṃ rudrasaṃhitam35| śaiśavaṃ paṃcanidhanaṃ gāyatraṃ jyeṣṭhasāma ca| vāmadevyaṃ bṛhatsāma rauravaṃ ca rathaṃtaram36| gavāṃ vrataṃ vikīrṇaṃ ca rakṣoghnaṃ ca yamaṃ tathā| gāyeyuḥ sāmagā rājanpaścimadvāramāśritāḥ37| ātharvaṇāścottarataḥ śāṃtikaṃ pauṣṭikaṃ tathā| japeyurmanasā devamāśritā varuṇaṃ prabhum38| pūrve dyurabhito rātrāvevaṃ kṛtvādhivāsanam| gajāśvarathavalmīka saṃgamādvrajagokulāt39| mṛdamādāya kuṃbheṣu prakṣipedoṣadhīstathā| rocanāṃ ca sasiddhārthāṃ gaṃdhānguggulumeva ca40| snāpanaṃ tasya karttavyaṃ paṃcagavyasamanvitaṃ| pūrvaṃ karturmahāmaṃtrairevaṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ41| ativāhya kṣapāmevaṃ vidhiyuktena karmaṇā| tataḥ prabhāte vimale saṃjāte tu śataṃ gavāṃ42| brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradātavyamaṣṭaṣaṣṭyathavā punaḥ| paṃcāśadvātha ṣaṭtriṃśatpaṃcaviṃśati vā punaḥ43| tataścāvasaraprāpte śuddhe lagne suśobhane| vedaśabdaiḥ sagaṃdharvairvādyaiśca vividhaiḥ punaḥ44| kanakālaṃkṛtāṃ kṛtvā jale gāmavatārayet| sāmagāya ca sā deyā brāhmaṇāya viśāṃpate45| pātrīmādāya sauvarṇī paṃcaratnasamanvitām| tato nikṣipya makarānmatsyādīṃścaiva sarvaśaḥ46| dhṛtāṃ caturbhirvipraiśca vedavedāṃgapāragaiḥ| mahānadījalopetāṃ dadhyakṣatavibhūṣitām47| uttarābhimukhāṃ nyubjāṃ jalamadhye tu kārayet| ātharvaṇena susnātāṃ punarmāyāṃ tathaiva ca48| āpohiṣṭheti maṃtreṇa kṣiptvāgatya ca maṃḍapaṃ| pūjayitvā sadasyānvai baliṃ dadyātsamaṃtataḥ49| punardināni hotavyaṃ catvāri rājasattama| caturthīkarma karttavyaṃ deyaṃ tatrāpi śaktitaḥ1.27.50| kṛtvā tu yajñapātrāṇi yajñopakaraṇāni ca| ṛtvigbhyastu samaṃ dadyānmaṃḍapaṃ vibhajetpunaḥ51| hemapātrīṃ ca śayyāṃ ca viprāya ca nivedayet| tataḥ sahasraṃ viprāṇāmathavā'ṣṭaśataṃ tathā52| bhojanīyaṃ yathāśakti paṃcāśadvātha viṃśatiḥ| evameṣa purāṇeṣu taṭākavidhirucyate53| kūpavāpīṣu sarvāsu tathā puṣkariṇīṣu ca| eṣa eva vidhirdṛṣṭaḥ pratiṣṭhāsu tathaiva ca54| maṃtratastu viśeṣaḥ syātprāsādodyānabhūmiṣu| ayaṃ tvaśaktāvardhena vidhirdṛṣṭaḥ svayaṃbhuvā55| svalpeṣvekāgnivatkāryo vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaiḥ| prāvṛṭkāle sthitaṃ toyamagniṣṭomasamaṃ smṛtam56| śaratkālasthitaṃ yatsyāttaduktaphaladāyakam| vājapeyātirātrābhyāṃ hemaṃte śiśire sthitam57| aśvamedhasamaṃ prāhurvasaṃtasamaye sthitam| grīṣmepi yatsthitaṃ toyaṃ rājasūyādviśiṣyate58| etānmahārāja viśeṣadharmānkaroti corvyāmatiśuddhabuddhiḥ| sa yāti brahmālayameva śuddhaḥ kalpānanekāndivi modate ca59| anekalokānvicaransvarādīnbhuktvā parārdhadvayamaṅganābhiḥ| sahaiva viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padaṃ yatprāpnoti tadyogabalena bhūyaḥ60| iti śrīpādmapurāṇe prathame sṛṣṭikhaṃḍe taṭākapratiṣṭhāvidhirnāma saptaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ27| |
English translation
Bhīṣma said :
1-3a. O brāhmaṇa , tell me in detail, about the rite (which is performed) with reference to lakes, gardens, ponds, wells and ponds full of lotuses, and temples of deities. Tell me which brāhmaṇas are employed as the priests there; (tell me) also (about) the fees to be paid to the priests, (about) the offerings, the time, the place and the preceptor. O you of a good vow, tell me also about the components that are prescribed (for the rite).
Pulastya said :
3b. O king of mighty arms, listen to the description of the rite performed with reference to the lakes etc.
4-6. O best king, this account is narrated in the Purāṇas . When Uttarāyaṇa comes, a man, having obtained (i.e. having chosen) the auspicious bright half of a month, on a day declared to be auspicious by the brāhmaṇas, should get fashioned an altar measuring four cubits, even, and having four comers and four openings in a region free from evil things and near a lake. Similarly there should be a pavilion open on four sides and of the measure of sixteen cubits.
7. Around the altar there should be holes of the measure of the cubit of the middle length and having three belts. O prince, they should be nine, seven or five (in number), and should not have curved openings.
8. The receptacle should be of the measure of the length equal to twelve aṅgulas [1] , and six or seven fingers [2] in expanse. The holes should be of the measure of a cubit [3] and should have three belts raised at three steps.
9. On all the sides there should be banners of the same colour, along with flags. He should get fashioned doors of the branches (i.e. parts) of (the trees viz.) Aśvattha , Udumbara , Plakṣa and Vaṭa , for the pavilion in every direction.
10-12a. There should be eight sacrificial priests (who recite the prayers of the Ṛgveda ) and eight door-keepers. There should be eight brāhmaṇas, well-versed in the Vedas , as the mutterers (of sacred texts). He should place (i.e. appoint) best brāhmaṇas, endowed with all (good) signs, knowing the sacred texts, with their senses curbed and (belonging to good) family and having a (noble) character.
12b-13. In every hole he should put pitchers, and materials for the sacrifice; the seat should be white and (equipped) with a fan; there should be a very big copper-vessel. Then there should be offerings of various colours for each deity.
14-15. The wise preceptor should put (the various things) on the ground after having consecrated them. The sacrificial post, made of the Kṣīra tree, should be of the length of a cubit [4] or of the size of the sacrificer; desiring his well-being, he should fix it. He should engage twenty-five priests with golden ornaments on their persons.
16-17. He should give to all the priests, equally, golden armlets, bracelets, and also finger-rings, and various kinds of garments; it is prescribed that the preceptor should be given double (of what is given to other priests). He should also give (these things) with a bed and also whatever is dear to himself.
18-20. O king, having first obtained all these, viz. golden (images of) a tortoise and a crocodile, silver (images) of a fish and a (kind of) snake (not poisonous), copper (images of) a shark and a frog and iron (image of) a porpoise, the sacrificer, along with his wife, sons and grandsons, should be bathed by all (brāhmaṇas) who have mastered the Vedas, with water (mixed) with all herbs.
21-22. (Then) he, having reached the western entrance, should enter the pavilion. He, knowing the truth, should draw a circle with dust of five colours to the accompaniment of auspicious sounds and the sound of kettle-drums; and also (he should draw) a wheel with sixteen spokes and the figure of Brahmā within a lotus.
23-24. It should have four corners (i.e. it should be drawn within a square), should be circular on all sides and richly decorated in the middle. The wise one, having fashioned the images of the planets and the regents of the quarters around the altar, should properly install all of them in every direction. Having recited the text sacred to Varuṇa he should place the pitcher at the centre.
25-26a. The wise should install (the images of) Brahmā, Śiva and Viṣṇu there only. Having installed (the images of) Vināyaka , Kamalā (i.e. Lakṣmī ) and Ambikā (i.e. Pārvatī ), he should, then, for the peace of all worlds, install (the images of) the group of spirits.
26b-28a. Having thus made the installation with flowers, eatables and fruits, he should cover those pitchers containing gems with pieces of cloth. Having on all sides, decorated the door-keepers with flowers and sandal he should say to them: ‘(Please) proceed with the sacrifice’ and should honour the preceptor.
28b-29. Two (brāhmaṇas) knowing the Ṛgveda should be kept (i.e. seated) in the east; two (brāhmaṇas) knowing the Yajurveda should be kept (i.e. seated) in the south. Two (brāhmaṇas the) singers of the Sāmaveda should be kept (i.e. seated) in the west; and two (brāhmaṇas) knowing the Atharvaveda should be seated in the north. The sacrificer, facing the east, should sit in the south.
30. He should again tell the sacrificing priests to (commence the) sacrifice: ‘Please resort to the muttering of excellent sacred texts.’
31. Having thus advised all those mutterers (of the sacred texts) and he, knowing the sacred texts, having kindled the fire, should offer into it ghee and sacred sticks (to the accompaniment of the recital) of sacred texts.
32a. The sacrificial priests of the Ṛgveda should make offerings all round into the fire with (the recital of) texts sacred to Varuṇa only.
32b-35a. Having duly made offerings to the planets, and also to Indra and the lord, to the Maruts , the regents of the quarters and to Viśvakarman , the priest (called) Bahṛc (seated) in the east should mutter separately the auspicious Śāntisūkta , the prayer to Rudra and Pavamāna , the Puruṣa-sūkta . The priests knowing Yajurveda seated in the south should recite the sūkta (i.e. eulogy) of Śakra , Rudra, Budha , and also a hymn addressed to the demons called Kuṣmāṇḍa [5] , the sūkta (i.e. eulogy) of Jātavedas (i.e. Fire), and of the Sun.
35b-37a. The Sāma -singers seated at the western door (of the pavilion) should sing the Sāmans called Vairāja Pauruṣa Sūkta [6] , Sauparṇa Sūkta , Rudrasūkta , Śaiśava Sūkta , Pañcanidhāna Sūkta , Gāyatra Sūkta , Jyeṣṭha Sāman , Vāmadeva Sūkta , Bṛhatsāman , Raurava , Rathantara , the celebrated Gavām Vrata , (the hymns called) Rakṣoghna and Yama . [7]
37b-38. The priests of the Atharva Veda (seated) in the north, should, resorting mentally to Lord Varuṇa, repeat the Sāntika and Pauṣṭika hymns (from the Atharvaveda). [8]
39-41a. Having thus fully made the consecration of the image at night of the previous day, and having brought earth from a hamlet where cowherds and cows stay, and where elephants, horses, chariots and anthills are found, he should put it and the herbs also into pitchers. Then bringing the yellow pigment, white mustard, sandal and a fragrant gum resin, he (i.e. the sacrificer) should be bathed with (water mixed with) the five products of a cow.
41b-43. Having thus first duly done the bathing of the sacrificer to the accompaniment of great religious texts, and having thus spent the night in the acts performed according to sacred precepts, he should at clear daybreak give a hundred or eighty-eight or fifty or thirty-six or twenty-five cows to brāhmaṇas.
44-45. Then when the time of an auspicious moment of the Sun’s entrance into a zodiacal sign approaches, he should take down into water, a cow decorated with gold to the accompaniment of Vedic texts, divine music and various musical instruments. O king, that cow should be given to a singer of Sāmans .
46-48a. Then having taken a golden vessel (decked) with five jewels, and then having fully placed into it the (golden) crocodile, fish etc., he should put it, while held by four brahmaṇas [brāhmaṇas?] well-versed in Vedas and Vedāṅgas , and containing the water of great rivers, into water with its opening turned down and facing the north.
48b-49. Then having well-bathed (the image of) Māyā , he should put it (into water) to the accompaniment of the sacred hymn Āpohiṣṭha and then having come (back) to the pavilion, and having honoured the members (of the sacrificial session) he should make offerings on all sides.
50. Then he should make offerings for four days. He should perform the (proper) rite on the fourth day and at that (rite) also he should give (presents to brāhmaṇas) according to his capacity.
51. Arranging the sacrificial vessels and the sacrificial material, he should distribute these equally among the priests.
52. Then he should pull down the pavilion; and he should give the golden vessel and a bed to a brāhmaṇa. Then, according to his capacity, he should feed one thousand, or eight hundred or fifty brāhmaṇas.
53-54. The rite about the lakes is thus narrated in the Purāṇas. The same rite is prescribed in the case of all wells and reservoirs of water and lotus-pools; and in the case of installation (of images).
55. In the case of palaces and gardens the difference lies in the sacred texts (i.e. the sacred texts are different). In the case of one who does not have the capacity (to spend so much), the rite as decided by Brahmā (is to be performed) with half (the expenditure).
56. When (the means) are few, the rite should be performed (as in the case of a rite with one fire) by (men) free from the vanity of wealth. The water that remains in the lakes in the rainy season after such a rite is performed, is considered to be equal to (i.e. gives the fruit of) the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
57. That (water) which remains (in the lakes) in the autumn gives the fruit described above. That (water) which remains in the lakes in the cold and winter seasons (comprising of the months of Mārgaśīrṣa to Phālguna ) is equal to the Vājapeya and Atirātra sacrifices (i.e. gives the fruit of Vājapeya and Atirātra ).
58. That (water) which remains (in the lakes) in the spring season is equal to (i.e. gives the fruit of) the Aśvamedha sacrifice; and that water too that remains (in the lakes) during the summer excels (the fruit of) the Rājasūya (sacrifice).
59-60. O great king, he, the pure one, who, of an extremely pure mind, performs these special religious deeds, goes to Brahmā’s abode only, and (there) rejoices for many Kalpas . Having moved in many worlds, and having enjoyed (in) the worlds like Svaḥ [9] , with beautiful ladies for two parārdhas (i.e. for a very very long period), he, again goes to Viṣṇu’s place, obtainable by the power of deep and abstract meditation.
[1]: [1] : Vitasti : a measure of length equal to 12 aṅgulas (being the distance between the extended thumb and little finger).
[2]: [2] : Hasta : a measure equal to 18 inches.
[3]: [3] : Ratni : (seems to he a corruption of aratni )—the distance from the elbow to the end of the closed fist, a cubit.
[4]: [4] : Aratni : a cubit of the middle length, from the elbow to the tip of the little finger.
[5]: [5] : Kauṣmāṇḍa : addressed (as a hymn) to the demons called Kuṣmāṇḍa .
[6]: [6] : Pauruṣa Sūkta : Ṛgveda X.90. It is regarded as a very sacred hymn.
[7]: [7] : Śaiśava , Pañcanidhāna , Vairāja [?] are names of various Sāmans — Sāman is first mentioned in Ṛgveda X.90.9. Jyeṣṭhasāman —Name of a Sāman ; see Mahābhārata XII. Vāmadevya —perhaps sāmans composed by Vāmadeva, who was a sage credited with the authorship of a larger portion of the IV maṇḍala of the Ṛgveda.
[8]: [8] : Śāntika , Pauṣṭika —Gertain hymns from the Atharvaveda. Atharvaṇa [?]—a priest or brāhmaṇa whose ritual is comprised in the Atharva Veda.
[9]: [9] : Svaḥ : is one of the seven worlds viz. Bhūḥ , Bhuvaḥ , Svaḥ , Mahaḥ , Jana , Tapas and Satya .
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 33837, revision 332873 (2022-02-22T01:31:22Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364148.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.