Verse 4.17.9

एष ह वा उदक्प्रवणो यज्ञो यत्रैवंविद्ब्रह्मा भवत्येवंविदं ह वा एषा ब्रह्माणमनुगाथा यतो यत आवर्तते तत्तद्गच्छति ॥ ४.१७.९ ॥

eṣa ha vā udakpravaṇo yajño yatraivaṃvidbrahmā bhavatyevaṃvidaṃ ha vā eṣā brahmāṇamanugāthā yato yata āvartate tattadgacchati || 4.17.9 ||

9. That sacrifice which is directed by a capable brahmā priest leads to the uttarāyaṇa [the path of the gods]. There is a verse in praise of such a learned priest: ‘Wherever the sacrifice goes wrong, this priest goes there to set things right’.

Word-for-word explanation:

Eṣaḥ ha vai yajñaḥ udakpravaṇaḥ, this sacrifice is the way to the uttarāyaṇa [the path of the gods]; yatra evamvit brahmā bhavati, where there is a knowledgeable brahmā priest; evam vidam ha vai eṣaḥ brahmāṇam anu gāthā, there is this praise for such a learned brahmā priest; yataḥ yataḥ āvartate, wherever there is a flaw [in the sacrifice]; tat tat gacchati, he [the brahmā priest] goes there [to make amends].

Commentary:

Whenever a sacrifice is to be held, a competent priest should be placed in charge. This will ensure

A capable priest is always in demand wherever a sacrifice is being held, because, first, he can avoid mistakes, and second, should there be any mistake, in spite of all the care taken, the priest knows how to correct it.