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,
द्वात्रिंशदगुलैर्युक्तं कर्तव्यं पुस्तकोत्तमम्
The best book should be made with thirty-two joints.
चतुविशांगुलं यच्च तद्वै स्वधनमुच्यते
That which measures twenty-four fingers is called one's own wealth.
अष्टांगुलं भवेद्यच्च तत्कनिष्ठमिहोच्यते
That which measures eight fingers is here called inferior.
ताडिता जलपत्रे च अथ वा चागुरुत्वचि
Beaten on water-leaves, or else on the bark of aguru,
द्वादशांगुलकं यच्च भूर्जतैडादिनिर्मितम्
That which is twelve fingers in length, made from birch or similar materials,
हस्तसंस्थापिते तस्य तेनायुष्यकरं भवेत्
When placed in the hand, it becomes a giver of longevity.
स्वर्गमार्गस्य गमने भारते च तदर्धकम्
For the journey on the path to heaven, in Bharata it is half that.
युगेयुगे पादहीनं धर्मं कुर्याद्यथारुचि
In every age, one may practice dharma as desired, even if it is lacking a foot.
जैमिनिं च ततो व्यासं शंकरं च तथा हरिम् । 2.1.7.
Then Jaimini, Vyasa, Shankara, and likewise Hari.
ततः प्रवाचयेद्विप्रो धर्मशास्त्रार्थकोविदः
After that, a learned Brahmin, expert in the meaning of Dharmaśāstra, should recite.