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.
ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्ते कृतार्था न संशयः
They are blessed, they are great-souled, they are accomplished—there is no doubt.
न शोभते पुरं वीर व्यासहीनं कदाचन
O hero, a city is never splendid without Vyāsa.
न राजते सरो यद्वत्पद्मिनी रहितं नृप
Just as a lake is not radiant, O king, when devoid of lotuses,
यथैकतो ग्रहाः सर्वे एकतस्तु दिवाकरः
Just as all the planets are on one side, and on the other side is the Sun,
यथा वेदसमो नास्ति आगमो भुवि कश्चन
Just as there is no scripture on earth equal to the Veda,
कुरुक्षेत्रसमं तीर्थं न द्वितीयं प्रचक्षते
so too, there is no other sacred place declared to be equal to Kurukshetra.
नाश्वमेधसमं पुण्यं न पापं ब्रह्महत्यया 1.216.११
There is no merit equal to that of the Ashvamedha sacrifice, nor any sin equal to the killing of a Brahmin.
तथा व्याससमो विप्रो न क्वचित्प्राप्यते नृप
Likewise, O King, a Brahmin equal to Vyasa is never to be found anywhere.
नास्ति व्याससमः श्रेष्ठ इतीयं वैदिकी श्रुतिः उपविष्टो यदा भुंक्ते व्यासो वै विप्रमण्डले
There is none as excellent as Vyasa—so declares the Vedic revelation; when Vyasa sits and partakes among the assembly of Brahmins,
श्राद्धे तात पवित्राणि कथितानि पुरा मम
At the śrāddha, dear one, the pure offerings have been described by me in ancient times: