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.
अब्राह्मणेन लिखितं निष्फलं परिकीर्तितम्
A work written by a non-Brahmin is declared fruitless.
पतितैरपि पाखंडैर्न स्त्री विलिखति क्वचित् न लिखेद्धर्मशास्त्रं च पुराणं स्तोत्रसंहितम्
Neither the fallen nor heretics, nor a woman, should ever write; nor should one write Dharmaśāstra, Purāṇa, or hymn collections.
तच्च प्राप्नुवन्कर्तव्यं सुवर्णरजतस्य च
Having obtained that, one should perform the proper rites for gold and silver.
जीवन्त्याश्च रसैर्युक्तैर्मणिकर्दमलोलुपैः
And for a living woman, with juices and those greedy for pearl-mud.
कृष्णे वायुप्रदं विद्यात्पीते वायुक्षयो भवेत्
In black ink, one should know it gives wind; in yellow, it causes loss of wind.
इतिहासपुराणानां विलिखेद्यन्मुखाच्छृणु
He should write histories and Purāṇas, having heard them from the mouth (of a teacher).
पूर्वामुखे चार्थहानिरुत्तरे च मुखे श्रियः
In the east-facing direction, there is loss of meaning; in the north-facing, there is gain of prosperity.
पितृमेधे भुवः कंपे न लिखेज्जन्मवासरे
At a funeral rite, during an earthquake, or on a birth anniversary, one should not write.
अत्र लेखाद्दरिद्रः स्यात्तथा पुत्रविनाशनम् 2.1.7.
By writing at such times, one becomes poor and suffers the loss of a son.
पितृश्राद्धदिने लेखः कुलक्षयकरो भवेत्
On the day of the ancestral offering, writing causes the destruction of the family.
अशोचेऽपि दरिद्रः स्याज्जन्माहे चायुषः क्षयः
Even if he does not grieve, a person may become poor, and there is a loss of lifespan at birth.
द्रुतलेखी च तेजस्वी यो लेखयति लेखकः
The scribe who writes swiftly and with brilliance is called a skilled writer.
लिपियुक्तः समायुक्तः एवागमलेखकः
One who is proficient in script and well-composed is indeed a true scribe.
कामरूपाक्षरैर्वापि यावच्च संहितागणः
Even with letters shaped by desire, as long as there is a collection of texts,
यावदक्षरसंस्थानं तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते
For as long as the arrangement of letters endures, so long is one honored in heaven.
लिखित्वा यस्तु पापात्मा यावदक्षर संख्यया
But whoever, with a sinful heart, writes according to the number of letters,
कुटुंबभरणार्थं तु गृह्णीयाद्वापि वेतनम्
If one accepts payment for the sake of supporting his family,
पतितैरंत्यजैर्म्लेच्छै रोगी कुष्ठी क्षयी तथा
If written by the fallen, outcastes, foreigners, or those afflicted with disease, leprosy, or consumption,
एतैर्विलिखितं यच्च धारयेन्न गृहाश्रमी 2.1.7.
Whatever is written by these, a householder should not keep.
हीनांगा प्रतिमा चैव पुस्तकं मानहीनकम्
An image with defective limbs, or a book lacking proper measure,