Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 12: Preparation for the Aśvamedha Sacrifice
Text 1.12.17
छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः।
विघ्नितस्य हि यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति॥
chidraṁ hi mṛgayante ’tra vidvāṁso brahma-rākṣasāḥ
vighnitasya hi yajñasya sadyaḥ kartā vinaśyati
chidram hi = offenses in carrying out this sacrifice; mṛgayante = search for; atra = in the manner of performing the Aśvamedha sacrifice; vidvāṁsaḥ = experienced; brahma-rākṣasāḥ = brahma-rākṣasas; vighnitasya = of the destroyed; hi yajñasya = sacrifice; sadyaḥ = immediately; kartā = the performer; vinaśyati = perishes.
Brahma-rākṣasas experienced in the manner of performing the Aśvamedha sacrifice search for offenses in carrying out this sacrifice. The performer of the destroyed sacrifice perishes immediately.