उप विश्य ततः पश्चाच्छ्रावकः शृणुयान्नृप
Then, after entering, the listener should hear, O King.
प्रणम्य शिरसा तस्य पुस्तकस्य विशांपते पुनर्बध्नीत तत्सूत्रं तन्मुक्त्वा वाचयेत्क्वचित्
Having bowed his head to the book, O lord of the people, he should again tie the thread, and sometimes recite it after untying.
त्रिविधं पुस्तकं विद्यात्सूत्रं वासुकिरुच्यते
One should know the book as threefold; the thread is called Vāsuki.
शंकरश्च तथा सूत्रं पंक्तयः सर्वदेवताः
Śaṃkara's thread likewise, and the lines are for all the deities.
अग्रे स्थिता ग्रहाः सर्वे दिशो वापि तथा विभो
All the planets are placed in front, as well as the directions, O mighty one.
यंत्रद्वयं काष्ठमयमधोर्ध्वं यदुदाहृतम्
The two wooden devices mentioned below and above.
इत्थं देवमयं ह्येतत्पुस्तकं देवपूजितम्
Thus, this book is divine, worshipped by the gods.
योऽस्य सूत्रं बृहत्कृत्वा प्रयच्छति नरोत्तमः
Whoever, O best of men, makes its thread large and offers it.
निरूप्य पात्रं राजेन्द्र कराभ्यां गृह्य वाचकः वाल्मीकिं च तथा राजन्विधिं विष्णुं शिवं रविम्।।1.216.
Having examined the vessel, O king of kings, the reciter takes it with his hands, and also invokes Vālmīki, the rite, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the Sun.
नमस्कारमथैषां तु पठित्वा कुरुनंदन।। ततोसौ व्याहरेद्विप्रान्वाचकः श्रदयान्वितः
After reciting the salutations to them, O son of Kuru, then the reciter, filled with faith, addresses the Brāhmaṇas.
अलंबितमतस्तब्धमद्भुतं वीरमूर्जितम्
He is adorned, steadfast, wondrous, heroic, and vigorous.
सप्तस्वरसमायुक्तं कालेकाले विशांपते
Endowed with the seven notes, at every time, O lord of the people.
ईदृशाद्वाचकाद्विप्राच्छ्रुत्वा श्रद्धासमन्वितः
Having heard from such a reciter, a Brāhmaṇa, endowed with faith.
नियमस्थः शुचिः श्रोता शृणुयात्फलमश्नुते
The listener, established in discipline and pure, hears and attains the fruit.
अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुते गच्छेद्वापि परं स्थानं देवस्याद्भुतमुत्तमम्
He obtains the fruit of the horse sacrifice, attains all desires, or goes to the supreme, wondrous, excellent abode of the god.
स्नातैर्गृहं समागम्य श्रोतृभिर्वाचकस्य तु
Having bathed, the listeners assemble at the house of the reciter.
आसनं च समाश्रित्य स्थातव्यं वाचकस्य तु
Having taken a seat, one should stand for the reciter.
वाचकेन नमस्कारे कृते व्यासस्य भूपते
When the reciter has made the salutation to Vyāsa, O king.
संशये सति प्रष्टव्यो वाचकः संप्रसाद्य तु 1.216.
In case of doubt, one should respectfully question the reciter.
वाचकेनापि वक्तव्यं यत्स्यात्तेषां निबोधनम्
The reciter, too, should explain whatever understanding is required for them.
नमस्कारादयः श्राव्या शिवमस्त्विति वोद्यते
Salutations and similar utterances should be heard, and 'May there be well-being' is to be spoken.
शूद्राणां पुरतो वैश्या वैश्यानां क्षत्रिणस्तथा ये च संकरजा राजन्नरास्ते शूद्रपृष्ठतः
Shudras should stand before Vaishyas, Vaishyas before Kshatriyas, and those born of mixed castes, O King, should stand behind the Shudras.
ब्राह्मणं वाचकं विद्यान्नान्यवर्णजमादरेत्
One should recognize a Brahmin as the reciter, and should not honor one born of another caste.
इत्थं हि शृण्वतां तेषां वर्णानामनुपूर्वशः
Thus, as they listen, the castes should proceed in their proper order.
श्रेयोऽर्थमात्मनो राजन्पूजयेद्वाचकं बुधः
For the sake of his own welfare, O King, a wise person should honor the reciter.
ब्राह्मणेन महाबाहो द्वे देये क्षत्रियस्य तु
A Brahmin, O mighty-armed one, should give two (gold coins) to a Kshatriya.
शूद्रेणैव च चत्वारो दातव्याः स्वर्णमाषकाः
A Shudra should give four gold mashakas.
प्रथमे पारणे राजन्वाचकं पूज्य शक्तितः
At the first completion of the recitation, O King, the reciter should be honored according to one's ability.
कार्तिकादीन्समारभ्य यावत्कार्त्तिकमच्युत 1.216.
Beginning from Kartika and continuing up to Kartika, O Achyuta.
सौत्रामणिं वाजपेयं वैष्णवं च तथा विभो
The Sautramani, Vajapeya, and Vaishnava sacrifices as well, O Lord.