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.
सततं पूजयेद्यस्तु वाचकं श्रद्धया मुदा
But he who always honors the reciter with faith and joy,
य एवं शृणुयाद्वीर स ज्ञेयः सात्त्विको बुधैः
he who listens in this way, O hero, is to be known by the wise as sattvic.
तस्मात्पूज्यतमो नान्यः श्रावकाणां नृपोत्तम
Therefore, O best of kings, there is no one more worthy of honor among listeners.
चतुर्णामिह वर्णानां नान्यो बन्धुः प्रचक्ष्यते
Among the four varnas here, no other is declared to be a true friend.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूजयेद्वाचकं सदा
Therefore, with all effort, one should always honor the reciter.
वाचको नृपशार्दूल विप्रादीनामशेषतः
O tiger among kings, the reciter is the guru of all brahmins and others without exception.
शृण्वंति ये नरा राजन्स तेषां गुरुरुच्यते । 1.216.
O King, those men who listen to him are called his disciples.
ये शृण्वंति नृपश्रेष्ठ मासि मासि ददंति ते
O best of kings, those who listen and give month after month,
द्वादश्यां चामावास्यायामथ वा रविसंक्रमे
on the twelfth day, on the new moon, or at the sun's transit,
अयने विषुवे चैव चंद्रसूर्यग्रहे तथा
at the solstice, at the equinox, and during lunar or solar eclipses,
देयं स्याच्छ्रावकैस्तात तं मुक्त्वा नान्यतो नृप
O King, the gift should be given by the listeners; except to him, it should not be given to anyone else.
अदत्त्वा तस्य येन्यस्मै संप्रयच्छंति श्रावकाः
If the listeners give it to anyone else without giving it to him,
कृत्वावमानमथ तैः प्राप्यते यत्फलं नृप
and thus show him disrespect, O King, then the result they obtain is as follows:
शूद्रत्वं ब्राह्मणो याति क्षत्रियो याति काकताम्
A Brahmin becomes a Shudra, and a Kshatriya attains the state of a crow.
तस्मात्पूज्यो नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रथमं वाचको बुधैः
Therefore, O best of kings, the reciter should be honored first by the wise.
वैशाख्यामयने वीर तृतीयायां च सुव्रत
O virtuous one, in the month of Vaiśākha, during the third day of the bright fortnight,
पर्वस्वन्येषु च विभो संपूज्यो धर्मतः स्मृतः 1.216.
and likewise at other sacred times, O mighty one, he is to be honored according to righteousness.
अन्नं चापि तथा पक्वं मांसं च कुरुनंदन
Cooked food and also meat, O descendant of Kuru,
वाचकस्तु यथा नित्यं सुखमास्ते नराधिप
should be given so that the reciter may always live happily, O lord of men.
हेमंते लोमशा देयाश्छत्रं प्रावृषि सत्तम
In winter, woolen garments should be given; in the rainy season, an umbrella, O excellent one.