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:
मधु पायसं कालशाकस्तिलाश्च कुतपस्तथा
honey, rice pudding, seasonal greens, sesame seeds, and also kutapa water.
दैवे कर्मणि पित्र्ये च स ज्ञेयः पंक्तिपावनः
In both divine and ancestral rites, he should be known as a purifier of the line.
एते सर्वे नृपश्रेष्ठ विज्ञेयाः पंक्तिपावनाः
All these, O best of kings, should be understood as purifiers of the line.
इतिहासपुराणानि जयेति विदितानि वै जयोपजीवी तेनासौ गतः ख्यातिं तु वाचकः
The Itihasas and Puranas are indeed known as 'Jaya'; by living upon Jaya, that reciter has attained fame.
विस्पष्टमद्भुतं शांतं स्पष्टाक्षरमिदं तथा
This is clear, marvelous, peaceful, and with distinct syllables.
युध्यमानोथ वात्यर्थं ग्रंथार्थं कृत्स्नशो नृप
Whether in battle or for the sake of meaning, the entire sense of the text, O King,
य एवं वाचयेद्राजन्य विप्रो व्यास उच्यते 1.216.
A Brahmin who recites thus to a king is called a Vyasa.
त्रिविधं वाचकं विद्यात्सदा गुणविभेदतः
One should always know the reciter to be of three kinds, according to the distinction of qualities.
द्वावेतौ कथ्यमानौ तु निबोध गदतो मम
Now listen as I tell you of these two, as they are spoken of.
पदच्छेदविहीनं च तथा भावविवर्जितम्
One who lacks word separation and is also devoid of meaning,