भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः पश्चान्मधुरं क्षारवर्जितम्
Afterwards, maintaining control of speech, one should eat sweet food, free from salt.
कुर्वाणः सप्तमीमेतां सर्वरोगैः प्रमुच्यते
By performing this Saptamī observance, one is released from all diseases.
कृत्वोपवासं सप्तम्यां विधिवत्पूजयेद्रविम्
Having fasted on Saptamī, one should worship Ravi according to the prescribed rule.
माहेश्वरेण विधिना पूजयेदत्र भास्करम्
Here, one should worship Bhāskara with the procedure prescribed for Maheśvara.
दद्यात्फलानि विप्रेभ्यो मार्तण्डः प्रीयतामिति
One should give fruits to the Brāhmaṇas, saying, 'May Mārtaṇḍa be pleased.'
देवस्य पुरतो दत्त्वा तथा चाम्रफलानि च
Having given before the deity, likewise mango fruits as well,
महातपो महाश्रेष्ठं भास्करस्य विशाम्पते
O lord of men, this is the great austerity, the highest, belonging to Bhāskara.
तथेदं परमं पर्व कथितं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्
Thus, this supreme festival called Brahma has been described.
अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च यत्फलं पृथिवीदाने तत्सर्वं प्राप्नुयान्नरः ।। 1.216.
Whatever fruit is obtained by giving a thousand Aśvamedhas, a hundred Vājapeyas, or the gift of the earth, all that a man attains.
राजसूयसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च
And the fruit of a thousand Rājasūyas and a hundred Vājapeyas,
लेखत्वं ब्राह्मणो गच्छेत्क्षत्रियो विप्रतां व्रजेत्
A Brāhmaṇa attains the status of a writer; a Kṣatriya attains Brāhmaṇahood.
सूतमागध बन्द्याद्या ये चान्ये संकरोद्भवाः
Charioteers, bards, heralds, and others born of mixed castes,
इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां न त्वन्यत्पावनं नृणाम्
For people, nothing else is as purifying as the Itihasas and Puranas.
विधिना राजशार्दूल शृण्वतां यत्फलं किल
O tiger among kings, hear now the fruit that comes to those who listen according to the prescribed method.
शतानीक उवाच भगवन्केन विधिना श्रोतव्यं भारतं नरैः
Śatānīka said: O Blessed One, by what method should men listen to the Mahabharata?
कथं तु वैष्णवा धर्माः शिवधर्मा अशेषतः
And how, in full, should the Vaishnava and Shaiva dharmas be heard?
वाचनीयं कथं चापि वाचको द्विजसत्तम
And how should it be recited, and who should be the reciter, O best of twice-born?
स्वरूपं चास्य मे ब्रूहि खषोल्कस्य महात्मनः
Tell me also the true nature of that great-souled Khaṣolka.
पारणेपारणे पूज्यो वाचकः श्रावकैः कथम् 1.216.
How should the reciter be honored by the listeners at the conclusion and during the recitation?
न च किं कार्यसिद्धं यत्सिद्धं पर्वणि पर्वणि सुमन्तुरुवाच सम्यक्पृष्टोऽस्मि राजेन्द्र इतिहासपुराणयोः
And what, if anything, should be accomplished at each festival? Sumantu said: O king of kings, you have rightly questioned me about the Itihasas and Puranas.
श्रवणे तु महाबाहो श्रूयतां यन्मया पुरा
O mighty-armed one, listen now to what I have heard in ancient times regarding their recitation.
हंत ते कथयाम्येष पुराणश्रवणे विधिम् मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो ब्रह्महत्यादिभिर्विभो
Come, I shall tell you the method for hearing the Puranas; by this, one is freed from all sins, even the killing of a Brahmin.
सायं प्रातस्तथा रात्रौ शुचिर्भूत्वा शृणोति यः
Whoever, having become pure, listens in the evening, morning, and at night—
प्रत्यूषे भगवान्ब्रह्मा दिनांते तुष्यते हरिः पारणानि दशाहेषु एके कुर्वंति तानि भोः
At dawn, Lord Brahma is pleased; at day's end, Hari is satisfied. Some perform the recitations over ten days, O dear one.
भवेद्वै राजशार्दूल शृणु तेषां च यत्फलम्
O tiger among kings, listen to the fruit that comes to them.
शुद्धवासा गृहादेत्य स्थानं यत्समयान्वितम्
Wearing clean garments, one should approach the designated place at the proper time.
नात्युच्चं नातिनीचं च ह्यासनं भजते ततः
Then, one should take a seat that is neither too high nor too low.
वन्दनीयं प्रपूज्य च श्रोतृभिः कुरुनन्दन
O descendant of the Kurus, the reciter should be honored and worshipped by the listeners.
न स्थेयं श्रावकैस्तस्माद्वाचकस्यासने नृप 1.216.
Therefore, O king, the listeners should not stand on the seat of the reciter.
यथा शिशुर्गुरोर्वीर स तेषां हि गुरुर्मतः
O hero, just as a child regards his teacher, so too is the reciter considered their teacher.