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.
विष्ण्वन्ते च भवेन्मुक्तिः सूर्यांऽते पादविच्युतिः
At the end of Vishnu comes liberation; at the end of the sun, the loss of a foot.
अनंते विपुला कीर्तिः सरस्वत्यां धनागमः
At the end, there is great fame; in Sarasvati, the acquisition of wealth.
मुक्तिमाप्नोति गायत्र्या इति पंक्तिफलोदयः
One attains liberation through Gayatri; thus arises the fruit of the verse.
ब्रह्मेन्द्रवैष्णवं शैवं शाक्तिकं च महेश्वरी
Brahma, Indra, Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, and Maheshvari forms,
वैष्णवं परमं दैवं यच्छैवं तल्ललाटकम्
The supreme Vaishnava is divine; that which is Shaiva is the forehead mark.
अग्रे स्थिता ग्रहाः सर्वे दिशामीशास्तथा द्विजाः
All the planets stand in front, as do the lords of the directions, O twice-born ones.
द्वावापृथिव्यौ पातालं तस्यांतः समुदाहृतम्
Two earths and the netherworld are mentioned within it.
न शस्यः पूजनीयश्च गृहे स्थाप्येत मानवः
He is not auspicious nor worthy of worship; let him be placed in the house, O man.
स याति ब्रह्मसदनं मणिवर्त्मादिकुट्टिमम् 2.1.7.
He goes to the abode of Brahma, by the jewel path and the foremost threshold.
पत्राणामग्रभागे तु वेधं कुर्यात्सुवर्तुलम्
At the foremost part of the leaves, one should make a piercing, well-rounded.