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.
हेतुर्हन्तेः स्मृतो धातोर्यन्निहन्त्युदितं परैः
Reason is said to be from the root 'han' (to strike), that which is declared by others as refuting.
तथा निर्वचनं ब्रूयाद्वाक्यार्थस्यावधारणम्
Likewise, definition is to be spoken as the determination of the meaning of a statement.
प्रपूर्वाच्छंसतेर्धातोः प्रशंसागुणवत्तया
From the root 'śaṃs' with the prefix 'pra', praise is the declaration of virtue.
इदमेवं विधातव्यमित्ययं विधिरुच्यते
This, indeed, is to be done in this way—such is called an injunction.
यो ह्यत्यन्तपरोक्षार्थः स पुराकल्प उच्यते
That which is an extremely remote meaning is called a 'purākalpa' (ancient ordinance).
मन्त्रब्राह्मणकल्पैश्च निगमैः शुद्धविस्तरैः
By means of mantras, Brāhmaṇas, Kalpas, and the pure, extensive Nigamas—
यथा हीदं तथा तद्वै इदं चैव तथैव तत्
Just as this is so, so is that; and just as that, so is this.
इत्येतद्ब्रह्मणस्यादौ विहितं रक्षणं बुधैः
Thus, at the beginning, the protection of the Brāhmaṇa was established by the wise.
मन्त्राणां कल्पना चैव विधिदृष्टिषु कर्मसु
And the arrangement of mantras as well, in actions seen as prescribed.
अस्तोभमनवद्यं च सूत्रं सूत्रविदो विदुः
A sūtra that is without redundancy and fault is known as such by those versed in sūtras.
कथं वेदाः पुनर्व्यस्तास्तन्नो ब्रूहि महामते
How were the Vedas again scattered? Tell us that, O greatly wise one.
ब्रह्मा मनुमुवाचेदं रक्षवेदं महामते
Brahmā spoke this to Manu: 'Protect the Veda, O greatly wise one.'
संवृता युगदोषेण सर्वे चैव यथाक्रमम्
All were concealed due to the fault of the age, each in its own order.
दशसाहस्रभागेन ह्यवशिष्टं कृतोदितम्
Only a ten-thousandth part remained, as declared in the Kṛta age.
वेदक्रिया हि कार्याः स्युर्माभूद्वेदविनाशनम्
Vedic rites must indeed be performed, lest the destruction of the Veda occur.
यज्ञे नष्टे वेदनाशस्ततः सर्वं प्रणश्यति
When sacrifice is lost, the Veda is destroyed; then, all is utterly lost.
पुनर्दशगुणः कृष्णो यज्ञो वै सर्वकामधुक्
Again, the sacrifice performed by Krishna is tenfold and grants all desires.
वेदमेकं चतुष्पादं चतुर्द्धा व्यभजत्प्रभुः
The Lord divided the single, four-footed Veda into four parts.
तदहं वर्त्तमानेन युष्माकं वेदकल्पनम्
Therefore, I have established the arrangement of the Veda for you in the present age.
प्रत्यक्षेण वरोक्षंवै तन्निबोधत सत्तमाः
Understand this, O excellent ones, both directly and indirectly, as I declare it.