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.
वेदार्थं वाचयेद्यस्माद्विपरीतोऽपवाचकः
Because one should recite the meaning of the Veda; the one who does the opposite is called a false reciter.
आदिमध्यावसाने च मन्त्रे च प्रणवं दिशेत्
At the beginning, middle, and end, and in mantras, one should add the praṇava.
त्रिदेवं पुस्तकं विद्यात्सूत्रं वासुकिरुच्यते
One should know the book as threefold divine; the sūtra is said to be by Vāsuki.
पत्राणि भगवान्ब्रह्मा ऊर्ध्वदीर्घाणि यानि च
The blessed Brahmā made the leaves, which are long and upright.
लिपी भंगी महेशः स्यात्तस्या मात्रा सरस्वती
Mahesha is the form of script, and Sarasvati is its measure.
चतुष्पादांतरे युग्मं मध्यमोंऽते युगं युगम्
Within the four-footed verse, the pair lies in the middle; each age follows the other.
भारते चेतिहासे च पुराणे द्विजसत्तमाः
In Bharata, in the histories, and in the Purāṇas, O best of twice-born ones,
वक्तृनामाक्षरैर्युक्तं पंक्तिभेदेन सत्तमाः
The speech of the speakers is adorned with syllables, and the verses are divided, O noble ones.
आत्मसंशुद्धिसंशुद्ध्या धारयेद्धर्म संहिताम् 2.1.7.
With purification of self and purity, one should uphold the Dharma scripture.
रिपुः सूर्यस्तयारामो यक्षोऽनंतः सरस्वती
The enemy is the sun; with it, delight arises; Yaksha is endless; Sarasvati is present.