लोपामुद्रा च धर्मज्ञा या च कोशीतिका स्मृता
Lopāmudrā, who knows dharma, and Kośītikā as remembered.
इत्येता मुख्यशः प्रोक्ता मया च ऋषिपुत्रकाः
Thus, the chief sons of sages have been spoken by me.
ईश्वरा मन्त्रवक्तार ऋषयो ह्यृषिकास्तथा
The lords, the speakers of mantras, the sages, and the female sages as well.
ईश्वराणामृषीणां च ऋषिकाणां सहात्मजैः
The lords, the sages, and the female sages, together with their sons.
तत्राज्ञायुक्तमद्वैतं दीप्तं गंभीरशब्दवत्
There, the nondual teaching is joined with authority, shining, and possessing profound sound.
सर्वभूतान्यभूतं च परिदानं च यद्भवेत्
Whatever may be the offering, which is not among all beings, and whatever is given.
यत्किञ्चिन्मन्त्रसंयुक्तं तत्र नामविभक्तिभिः
Whatever is joined with mantras there, with distinctions of names.
नैगमैर्विविधैः शब्दैर्निपातैर्बहुलं च यत्
Whatever is abundant with various words, usages, and many insertions.
अविस्पष्टपदं यच्च यच्च स्याद्बहुसंशयम्
Whatever is unclear in wording, and whatever is full of many doubts.
हेतुदृष्टान्त बहुलं चित्रशब्दमपार्थकम्
Whatever is abundant in causes and examples, with varied words and without meaning.
मिश्रा इति समाख्याताः प्रभावादृषितां गाताः
They are called 'Miśrā' because they were composed through the power of the sages.
भूतभव्यभवज्ज्ञान जन्मदुःखचिकित्सनम्
Knowledge of past, present, and future, and the remedy for the suffering of birth.
धर्मशास्त्रप्रणेतारो महिम्ना सर्वगाश्च वै
The authors of the treatises on dharma, by their greatness, are indeed present everywhere.
बृहस्पतिश्च शुक्रश्च व्यासः सारस्वतस्तथा
Bṛhaspati, Śukra, Vyāsa, and Sarasvata likewise.
यस्मादवारजाः संतः पूर्वेभ्यो मेधयाधिकाः
Because those born later, possessing greater intelligence, surpass those who came before.
यस्मिन्कालो न चं वयः प्रमाणमृषिभावने
In that era, age is not the measure for considering someone a sage.
यस्माद्बुद्ध्या च वर्षीयान्बलो ऽपि श्रुतवानृषिः
Because, even if younger in years, a sage is recognized by wisdom and strength of learning.
विनियुक्तावसानां तु तामृचं परिचक्षते
That which is assigned a definite ending is called 'Ṛc' by the learned.
अतियुक्तावसानं च तद्यजुर्वै प्रचक्षते
That which has an excessive ending is declared to be Yajus.
पञ्चमः प्रतिहोत्रश्च षष्ठमाहुरुपद्रवम्
The fifth is called 'Pratihotra,' and the sixth is known as 'Upadrava.'
पञ्चविन्ध्य इति प्रोक्तं ह्रीङ्कारः प्रणवादृते
It is called 'Pañcavindhya,' the syllable 'Hrīṃ,' except for the sacred syllable 'Praṇava.'
आशास्तिस्तु प्रसंख्याता विलापः परिदेवना
Desires are enumerated, as are lamentation and grieving.
एतत्तु सर्वविद्यानां विहितं मन्त्रलक्षणम्
This is the prescribed characteristic of mantras for all branches of knowledge.
मूर्तिर्निन्दा प्रशंसा चाक्रोशस्तोषस्तथैव च
Form, censure, praise, abuse, and satisfaction likewise.
मन्त्रभेदांश्च वक्ष्यामि चतुर्विशतिलक्षणान्
I shall describe the twenty-four characteristics of the divisions of mantras.
अभिशापो विशापश्च प्रश्नः प्रतिवचस्तथा
Imprecation, counter-imprecation, question, and reply likewise.
वियोगा ह्यभियोगाश्च कथा संस्था वरश्च वै
Separation, accusation, narrative, conclusion, and choice as well.
विलापश्चेति मन्त्राणां चतुर्विंशतिरुद्धृताः
Lamentation—thus, twenty-four types of mantras are enumerated.
हेतु र्निर्वचनं निन्दा प्रशस्तिः संशयो निधिः
Reason, definition, censure, praise, doubt, and treasury—
उपमा च दशैते वै विधयो ब्राह्मणस्य तु
And simile—these ten are indeed the methods of the Brāhmaṇa.