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.
संहितागमतन्त्रेषु प्रतिवेधे च संकुलम्
In the Samhitas, Agamas, and Tantras, and in each piercing, there is a mixture.
मध्यं तस्य हरेदायुः पार्श्ववेधः शिवं हरेत्
The middle piercing takes away life; the side piercing brings Shiva.
परमं प्रकृतेर्गुह्यं स्थानं देवैर्विनिर्मितम्
The supreme, secret place of nature was established by the gods.
अशक्तो बिल्वकाष्ठस्य तथा श्रीपर्णिकस्य च
He is unable to use wood of bilva or śrīparṇī trees.
प्रागारंभश्लोकशतं धर्मशास्त्रस्य वै लिखेत्
He should write a hundred verses at the beginning, truly, of the Dharmaśāstra.
ब्रह्मचर्येण विलिखेन्न मोहाद्ब्रह्मणः क्वचित्
Let him write with celibacy, never out of delusion regarding Brahman.
अनामात्वे हेमयुतां बलाकं चित्तमेव च
In the absence of a mother, with gold-adorned balāka wood and with a pure mind.
गारुडस्य च स्कान्दस्य न लिखेन्मध्यतन्त्रकम्
He should not write the middle section of the Garuḍa or Skanda Tantras.
गृहस्थो न लिखेद्ग्रंथं लिखेच्च मथुरां विना 2.1.7.
A householder should not write a treatise, except for that of Mathurā.
वाल्मीकिसंहितायाश्च लेखने च तथा क्वचित्
And likewise, at any time, regarding the writing of the Vālmīki Saṃhitā.