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.
इत्थं द्वंद्वविनिर्मुक्तः स येषां वाचको नृप
Thus, O King, he for whom the reciter is free from duality,
आत्मना तु कथं वीर सुखमिच्छेद्विचक्षणः
How, O wise one, can a person himself desire happiness?
वाचकश्रावकाणां च तस्माद्द्वंद्वं विघातयेत्
Therefore, one should remove discord between the reciter and the listeners.
इत्थं पूज्यः सदा व्यासः श्रेयोऽर्थं प्रथमं नृप
Thus Vyasa should always be honored first, O King, for the sake of supreme good.
श्रावकाणां तथा राजन्वाचकः पूज्य उच्यते
Likewise, O King, the reciter is said to be worthy of honor by the listeners.
सौराणां च यथा भानुः शैवानां शंकरो यथा
Just as the Sun is for the worshippers of Surya, and Shiva for the followers of Shiva,
दक्षिणां ददता नित्यं श्रोतव्यं भूतिमिच्छता 1.216.
One who always desires prosperity should listen, giving gifts as prescribed.
यदा दातुं न शक्नोति माषकं कांचनस्य तु
When one is unable to give, even a single grain of gold should be offered.
तदभावे हिरण्यं च वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः
In the absence of that, gold may be given, free from any deceit regarding wealth.
इत्येषा दक्षिणा नित्या मासिमासि भवेन्नृप
Thus, O king, this is the perpetual gift to be offered every month.