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.
असंयुक्ताक्षरपदं स्पष्टभागसमन्वितम्
He should use words and syllables that are not joined together, and that are endowed with clear meaning.
सामगाथाः समाश्रित्य रागयुक्तांतरं पठेत्
Basing himself on the Sāma verses, he should recite with appropriate melodies.
श्रीरागश्चैव हिल्लोलरागो वाजाविकस्तथा
The Śrīrāga, Hillola-rāga, and also Vājāvika are to be used.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रश्चापि विशेषतः पापैः प्रमुच्यते सर्वैर्महापुण्यं च विंदति
A Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and especially a Shudra, is freed from all sins and attains great merit.
शूद्राणां पुरतो वैश्यो वैश्यानां क्षत्रियः परः
In front of Shudras, a Vaishya; above Vaishyas, a Kshatriya.
न शूद्रः कथयेद्धर्मांस्तपअध्यापने तथा
A Shudra should not teach Dharma, nor engage in austerity or instruction.
शूद्रेणाधिगतं नास्ति विशेषाच्छब्दलक्षणम्
There is no special authority regarding the characteristics of words acquired by a Shudra.
श्वशृगालखरीक्षीरमपेयं हि यथा भवेत्
Just as the milk of a dog, jackal, or donkey is unfit to drink,
अमेध्यं शुध्यते तोयैः शूद्रः श्रोता हि शुध्यति 2.1.7.
Impure things are purified by water; a Shudra, by listening, is indeed purified.
यः शूद्र उद्दिशेद्धर्मं तथा चागमवैदिकम्
If a Shudra were to teach Dharma, or the Vedic and Āgamic scriptures,
बुध्यमानः सदा ह्यर्थं ग्रंथार्थं कृत्स्नमेव च
He should always understand the meaning, and the entire sense of the text.
वसेत्स पत्तने ग्रामे पुण्ये देशे स कीर्तितः वसंति पत्तने तस्मिन्व्याख्याता यत्र संवसेत्
He should reside in a city, village, or holy place, as is prescribed; the commentator should dwell where he resides.
यथार्कहीनं दिवसश्चंद्रहीना यथा निशा
Just as a day is without the sun, or a night without the moon,
यद्गृहे नैव शिशवो न रराज गृहं क्वचित् तथैव सोदर गेहे दृष्ट्वा पुष्करदर्शनम्
In a house where there are no children, that house never shines; likewise, in a brother's house, seeing the sight of a lotus.
अङ्कमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् यच्छ्रुत्वा मुच्यते पापात्पुरुषो ब्रह्महत्यया
Description of the greatness of Angka: By hearing this, a person is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
तृतीयं शैवमाख्यातं ततो भागवतं परम्
The third is called Shaiva, and after that, the supreme Bhagavata.
असामर्थ्ये च मात्स्योक्तं वैष्णवं च भविष्यकम्
In cases of incapacity, the teachings of Matsya, Vaishnava, and Bhavishya should be followed.
पराशरमतं गृह्यं गोभिलोक्तानि यानि च
One should adopt the opinions of Parashara and those teachings spoken by Gobhila.
अंतरेणागते मर्त्ये शास्त्रं नाध्यापयेत्क्वचित्
Except when a person has arrived, one should never teach scripture to anyone.
मंडूके पंचरात्रं तु सर्पे रात्रिचतुष्टयम्
For a frog, the Pancharatra; for a snake, four nights are prescribed.