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.
गुरोरनुज्ञया पित्रोः प्रकुर्यादभिवादनम्
With the permission of the teacher and parents, one should offer salutations.
न विष्णुर्न च ब्रह्मा च न च रुद्रः शचीपतिः
Neither Viṣṇu, nor Brahmā, nor Rudra, nor Indra—
सर्वज्ञानमयं चैव सर्वज्ञेन च तत्समम्
All knowledge is contained therein, and it is equal to the all-knowing.
गुरुभ्यो वंदनं व्यर्थ पितरं यो न तर्पयेत् उभयोस्तर्पणं नास्ति जीवन्नपि न जीवति
Salutation to the teachers is in vain for one who does not satisfy his father; for both, there is no satisfaction—such a one, though living, is as if not alive.
पुराणश्रवणं पुण्यं शून्यं भागवतं यदि
Hearing the Purāṇas is meritorious, but if the Bhāgavata is absent, it is empty.
आदिपर्वणि हीने तु भारताख्यं न धारयेत्
If the Ādiparvan is lacking, the text called Bhārata should not be retained.
दानकर्मविहीनं च मोक्षधर्मं न धारयेत
One should not uphold the path of liberation that is devoid of acts of charity.
वायुपुराणमश्रुत्वा शास्त्रं च यौगिकं विना
Without having heard the Vāyu Purāṇa, and without the Yogic scripture,
तथा वायुपुराणं यद्विहीनं श्रव्यमन्यकम् 2.1.7.
Likewise, if the Vāyu Purāṇa is lacking, one should listen to another scripture.
लंकां विना चादिकांडं तल्लिखित्वा न धारयेत्
One should not copy or preserve the Ādikāṇḍa without Laṅkā.
दक्षं विना न शंखं च शंखहीनं बृहस्पतिम्
Without Dakṣa, not the Śaṅkha; without the Śaṅkha, not Bṛhaspati.
संस्थापनादेव विना न च किमपि राक्षसैः
Without proper establishment, nothing at all should be done by the Rākṣasas.
न हरेत्पुस्तकं चापि न हरेदक्षराणि षट्
One should not steal a book, nor should one take even six letters.
आद्याक्षरस्य हरणात्ताम्रकुष्ठी भवेदिह
By stealing the first letter, one becomes afflicted with copper-leprosy in this life.
कुवले असिपत्रे च पततीह न संशयः
He falls into the Kuvala and Asipatra hells here, without doubt.
तस्मात्पुस्तकमात्रं यो हरेन्नरकमाप्नुयात्
Therefore, whoever steals even a book alone attains hell.
तानि वेदागमादीनि पुस्तकेष्वपि वाचयेत्
One should recite the Vedas, Āgamas, and such, even from books.
तथा तन्त्रोदितान्मंत्राँल्लिखित्वा तन्न वाचयेत्
Likewise, having written down mantras taught in the Tantras, one should not recite them.
स्फुटं कृत्वा पुरः स्थाप्य यावत्कालं प्रवर्तते 2.1.7.
Having made it clear and placing it in front, as long as it is in use.
न वाचयेच्च व्याख्याता वाचकोऽपि प्रवाचयेत्
The explainer should not recite, but the reader may recite.