वर्जयेद्वासरान्सप्त इति चाथर्वणी श्रुतिः
One should avoid seven days; so declares the Atharvanic scripture.
कर्मानुसारव्यक्तिनिर्धारणवर्णनम् संसृष्टा ब्राह्मणाः पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा द्विजोत्तमाः
The Brahmanas, having practiced austerity in ancient times, were united, O best of twice-born.
हव्यानामिह कव्यानां सर्वस्यापि च गुप्तये
For the protection of all offerings, both oblations to the gods and ancestors, here.
कव्यानि चैव पितरः किं भूतमधिकं ततः
The ancestors are indeed the kavyas; what then is greater than that?
स्वकीयं ब्राह्मणो भुंक्ते विदधाति द्विजोत्तमाः
The Brahmana enjoys his own, and bestows, O best of twice-born.
भवेद्विप्रो न संदेहस्तुष्टो भावाय वै भवेत्
There is no doubt that the Brahmana, when pleased, brings about well-being.
गर्भाधानादयश्चेह संस्कारा यस्य सत्तमाः स याति ब्रह्मणः स्थानं ब्राह्मणत्वेन संयुतः
He whose excellent rites, beginning with conception, are performed here, attains the state of Brahman, endowed with Brahmanhood.
संस्कारपूतः प्रथमो वेदपूतो द्वितीयकः
The first is purified by rites; the second is purified by the Veda.
क्षेत्रपूतं प्रविज्ञाय विपूतं पूजयेद्द्विजाः
Having discerned the purity of the field, one should worship the twice-born who are purified.
पूतानां परमः पूतो गुरूणां परमो गुरुः
Among the purified, the most pure; among the teachers, the supreme teacher.
पूजयित्वा द्विजान्देवाः स्वर्गं भुञ्जंति चाक्षयम् 2.1.5.
Having worshipped the twice-born, the gods enjoy heaven, imperishable.
यस्य विप्राः प्रसीदंति तस्य विष्णुः प्रसीदति
For whom the Brahmanas are pleased, for him Vishnu is pleased.
यस्माद्विष्णुमुखाद्विप्रः समुद्भूतः पुरा द्विजाः
Because the twice-born were originally manifested from the mouth of Vishnu,
तस्माद्विप्रमुखे वेदाश्चार्पिताः पुरुषेण हि
Therefore, the Vedas were entrusted to the twice-born by the Supreme Person.
पितृयज्ञविवाहेषु वह्निकार्येषु शांतिषु
In ancestral rites, weddings, fire ceremonies, and acts of pacification,
देवा भुञ्जंति हव्यानि बलिं प्रेतादयोऽसुराः
The gods partake of offerings, and spirits, ancestors, and demons receive their shares.
देवेभ्यश्च पितृभ्यश्च यो ददयाद्यज्ञकर्मसु
Whoever gives to gods and ancestors during sacrificial acts,
विना विप्रं च यो धर्मः प्रयासफलमात्रकः
Any religious act performed without a Brahmin yields only the fruit of effort.
तस्माद्ब्राह्मणमाहूय तस्य पूजां च कारयेत्
Therefore, one should summon a Brahmin and arrange for his worship.
श्रद्धया च द्विजं दृष्ट्वा प्रकुर्यादभिवादनम्
Seeing a twice-born with faith, one should offer respectful greeting.
अनभिवादिनां विप्रे द्वेषादश्रद्धयापि च । 2.1.5.
One who does not greet a Brahmin, out of spite or lack of faith,
आयुर्वृद्धिर्यशोर्वृद्धिर्वृद्धिर्विद्याधनस्य च
His lifespan, reputation, and knowledge and wealth all diminish.
न विप्रपादोदककर्दमानि न वेदशास्त्रप्रतिगर्जितानि
Neither the muddy water from a Brahmin's feet nor the thunder of Vedic scriptures,
षद्विंशतिदोषमाहुर्नरा नरकभीरवः
The fearful of hell declare twenty-six faults in humans.
ते स्वर्गे पितृलोके च ब्रह्मलोकेष्ववस्थिताः
Those established in heaven, the world of ancestors, and the realms of Brahma,
अन्यथा न वसेद्वासस्तस्मात्स्तेयी न पालयेत्
Otherwise, one should not reside there; therefore, a thief should not be protected.
पापिष्ठो नष्टकष्टौ च रुष्टो दुष्टश्च मुक्तकः
The most sinful, the lost and afflicted, the angry, the wicked, and the released,
चण्डः खण्डश्च वक्ता च दत्तस्यापहरस्तथा
The fierce, the broken, the speaker, and the taker of what has been given,
मलीमसश्च ते दोषाः षड्विंशतिरमी मताः
And the impure—these faults are considered to be twenty-six.
शृणुध्वं द्विजशार्दूलाः शास्त्रेस्मिन्ब्रुवतः क्रमात्
Hear, O foremost of twice-born, as I declare the order in this scripture.