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.
आदित्ययज्ञस्य तथा राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः इत्थं यज्ञफलं प्राप्य याति लोकांस्तथोत्तमान्
Likewise, the Aditya sacrifice, and the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha; thus, having attained the fruit of the sacrifice, one goes to the highest worlds.
वज्रवेदिकसंपन्नं मणिरत्नविभूषितम्
Endowed with a diamond altar, adorned with jewels and gems.
ततश्चंद्रस्य भवने वारुणे भवने ततः
Then to the mansion of the Moon, and after that to the mansion of Varuna.
धिषणस्य गृहं गत्वा ततश्चित्रशिखंडिनः एवमेव नृपश्रेष्ठ नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Having gone to the house of Dhishana, and then to that of Citrashikhandin; just so, O best of kings, there should be no doubt about this.
फलमेतत्समुद्दिष्टं शृण्वतां सततं नृणाम्
This fruit has been declared for those men who constantly listen.
एतानि परिमाणानि वत्सरेण भवंति वै
These are the measures that come to be in the course of a year.
एकं च द्वे तथा त्रीणि चत्वारि च विशांपते
One, two, three, and four, O lord of the people,
ब्राह्मणाद्यैर्नृप श्रेष्ठ सर्ववर्णविभागशः
By Brahmins and others, O best of kings, according to all divisions of class,
वाचकं ब्राह्मणं चैव सर्वकामैः प्रपूजयेत् 1.216.
One should honor the reciter and the Brahmin with all desired offerings.
वाचकाय प्रदत्त्वा तु ततो विप्रान्प्रपूजयेत्
Having given to the reciter, then one should honor the Brahmins.
दत्त्वा च वाचकायेह श्रुतस्य प्राप्यते फलम् तथा श्रुतं नृपश्रेष्ठ सदक्षिणमुदाहृतम्
By giving to the reciter here, the fruit of what is heard is obtained; likewise, O best of kings, what is heard is said to be complete when accompanied by a proper gift.
वाचकं पूजयेद्यस्मा त्पश्चाल्लेखकपूजनम्
Because the reciter is honored, afterwards the scribe should be honored.
वाचकः पूजितो येन पूजितास्तेन देवताः
He who has honored the reciter has thereby honored the deities.
इति वेधाः सदा प्राह देवानां पुरतः पुरा न तुल्यं वाचकेनेह पात्रदानस्य विद्यते
Thus the Creator always declared before the gods in ancient times: there is nothing equal here to the giving of a vessel as to the reciter.
तिष्ठंति यस्य शास्त्राणि जिह्वाग्रे पृथिवीपते
O lord of the earth, those whose scriptures abide at the tip of their tongue,
न तुल्यं विद्यते तेन भुवि पात्रं नरेषु वै श्राद्धे यस्य द्विजो भुंक्ते वाचकः श्रदयान्वितः
There is no equal among men on earth to such a vessel; at a śrāddha, the twice-born who eats, the reciter endowed with faith,
यथेह सर्वदेवानां भास्करः प्रवरः स्मृतः कलस्वरसमायुक्तं रसभावसमन्वितम्
Just as among all the gods the Sun is considered the foremost, endowed with the essence of nectar and the nature of taste,
बुध्यमानः सदात्यर्थं ग्रंथाथं कृत्स्नशो नृप 1.216.
Always understanding thoroughly the meaning of the text in its entirety, O king,
य एवं वाचयेद्राजन्य विप्रो व्यास उच्यते
The Brahmin who thus recites to the king is called Vyāsa.
इत्थंभूतो वसेद्यस्मिन्वाचको व्याससन्निभः
Where such a reciter resides, he is like Vyāsa.