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,
ईदृशं वाचयेद्यस्तु वाचकः क्ष्माधिपेश्वर
Such a person who recites in this way, O lord of the earth,
बुध्यते न च कष्टाच्च स ज्ञेयो वाचकाधमः
does not comprehend, and being the worst, should be known as the lowest of reciters.
अबुध्यमानो ग्रंथार्थं वाचयेद्यस्तु वाचकः
He who recites the meaning of the text without understanding it,
विस्पष्टमद्भुतं शांतं स्पष्टाक्षरपदं तथा
in a manner that is clear, wonderful, peaceful, and with distinct letters and words,
अत्त्यर्थं बुध्यमानस्तु ग्रंथार्थं कृत्स्नशो नृप
but one who understands it deeply, O King, comprehends the entire meaning of the text.
य एवं वाचयेद्राजन्स ज्ञेयः सात्त्विको बुधैः
He who recites in this way, O King, is to be known by the wise as sattvic.
हेतुवादपरो राजंस्तथासूयासमन्वितः ।। 1.216.
But one who is devoted to argument and filled with envy, O King,
वाचको यो महाबाहो शृणुयाद्यस्तु मानवः
O mighty-armed one, if a man listens to such a reciter,
न तस्य पुरतो वीर वाचये त्प्राज्ञ एव हि
O hero, let him not recite in the presence of such a one, for only the wise should do so.
राजन्कौतुकपात्रं तु स ज्ञेयो राजसो भवेत्
O King, such a person is to be known as a vessel of curiosity and is considered rajasic.