पृष्टोवोचन्महातेजा विरिंचो भगवान्प्रभुः
When asked, the glorious and mighty Lord Brahmā spoke.
इतिहासपुराणानि श्रुत्वा भक्त्या द्विजोत्तमाः
O best of twice-born, having listened with devotion to the histories and Purāṇas,
सायं प्रातस्तथा रात्रौ शुचिर्भूत्वा शृणोति यः
Whoever, pure in body, hears them in the evening, morning, and at night,
प्रत्यूषे भगवान्ब्रह्मा दिनांते तुष्यते हरिः
At dawn, Lord Brahmā is pleased, and at day's end, Hari is satisfied.
शुक्लवस्त्रधरश्चैव चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरः
Wearing white garments, with cloth, deer skin, and sacred grass above,
दिक्पतिभ्यो नमस्कृत्य ऊँकाराधिष्ठितानपि
Having bowed to the guardians of the directions, and also to those presided over by the syllable 'ū',
पुस्तकं धर्मशास्त्रस्य धर्माधिष्ठानशाश्वतम्
He should place the eternal scripture of dharma, the foundation of righteousness,
जामलानां गणपतिर्डामराणां शतक्रतुः
Among the Jāmalas, Gaṇapati; among the Ḍāmaras, Indra of a hundred sacrifices;
आदित्यो वासुदेवश्च माधवो रामकेशवौ ।। 2.1.7.
Among the Ādityas, Vāsudeva; Mādhava and Rāmakeśava as well.
वनमाली महादेवः सप्तानां सप्तपर्वसु अथ चादिपुराणस्य विरिंचिः परिकीर्तितः
Vanamālī, the great god, is among the seven in the seven divisions; and Brahmā is declared the originator of the Purāṇa.
शुद्धौदनं यवक्षीरं पायसं कृशरं तथा
Pure rice, barley-milk, sweetened rice, and also krishara,
शालिभक्तं सगोधूमं तिलाक्षतविमिश्रितम्
Cooked rice with wheat, mixed with sesame and unbroken grains,
पृथक्पृथक्चैव कांस्ये विन्यसेद्दिक्षु मध्यतः
He should place them separately in bronze vessels, in the directions and in the center.
शीतोदकं मधु क्षीरं सितेक्ष्वोश्च रसो गुडः
Cold water, honey, milk, the juice of white sugarcane, and jaggery,
शालितंडुलप्रस्थं तु तदर्धं वा तदर्धकम्
A prastha of rice, or half of that, or even half of that,
क्षीरं भागाष्टकं ग्राह्यं सप्तभागेन संस्थितम्
Milk should be taken in eight parts, arranged in seven portions.
अशीतिपलमानेन सिद्धमासादयेत्ततः
Then, using a measure of eighty palas, it should be properly prepared.
गुडमिश्रेण यो दद्यात्संपर्को जायते क्वचित् गृहीत्वा याचकः शुद्धः शृणुत द्विजसत्तमाः
Whoever gives with jaggery mixed in, sometimes a connection is formed; the pure petitioner, having received, listen, O best of twice-born.
शृणुते वाधीयानो यो दद्याद्धस्ते च पुस्तकम् 2.1.7.
Whoever listens with devotion, or gives a book into another's hand, attains merit.
पूर्वस्थः श्रावको विप्रो विख्यातस्तस्यदक्षिणे
The listener, a learned Brāhmaṇa, should be seated in front, to the right of the reciter.
प्रस्तरेणापि हस्तेन विन्यासः पंडितैः सदा
Even with a seat or with the hand, the arrangement should always be made by the learned.
असकृद्विन्यसेद्विप्राः पावमानीं जले जपेत्
Brāhmaṇas should arrange it repeatedly, and recite the Pāvamānī hymn over water.
यमदिक्संमुखे श्रोता वाचकश्चोत्तरामुखः
The listener should face the south, the reciter should face the north.
वैपरीत्येन विधिना विज्ञेयो द्विजसत्तमाः
If done in the reverse manner, O best of twice-born, it should be understood as improper.
इतोऽन्यथा यातुधानाः प्रलुंपंति फलं यतः
Otherwise, demons seize the fruit of the act.
श्रुत्वा प्रति पुण्यविद्यां योऽश्नीयान्मांसमेव तु
One who, after hearing sacred knowledge, eats meat—
यदि देवालये तीर्थे वाचयेच्छृणुयादथ
If one recites or listens in a temple or at a holy place—
माहात्म्यश्रवणादेव गोदानस्य फलं लभेत् पितुर्माहात्म्यं यत्पुत्रैर्वाच्यं संसदि पर्वणि
By merely hearing the greatness, one attains the fruit of gifting a cow; the greatness of the father should be recited by sons in the assembly on festival days.
वासुदेवामतश्चापि रुद्रमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् 2.1.7.
Also, the praise of Vāsudeva’s doctrine and the greatness of Rudra should be described.
दुर्गाग्रे शिवसूर्यस्य वैष्णवाख्यानमेव च
In front of Durgā, the glories of Śiva, Sūrya, and the Vaiṣṇava tradition should also be proclaimed.