प्रीणाति तर्पयन्त्येनं कामैस्तृप्ताः सदैव हि
They please and satisfy him, always content with their desires.
सामान्यधीते प्रीणाति घृताहुतिभिरन्वहम्
He pleases them daily with offerings of clarified butter in common recitation.
धर्माङ्गानि पुराणानि मांसैस्तर्पयते सुरान्
He satisfies the gods with meat offerings, reciting the limbs of dharma and the ancient texts.
गायत्रीमप्यधीयीत गत्वारण्यं समाहितः
One should also recite the Gayatri, having gone to the forest with focused mind.
गायत्रीं वै जपेन्नित्यं जपयज्ञः प्रकीर्तितः
Indeed, one should always repeat the Gayatri; this is called the sacrifice of recitation.
एकतश्चतुरो वेदान् गायत्रीं च तथैकतः
On one side are the four Vedas, and on the other, the Gayatri alone.
ततो ऽधीयीत सावित्रीमेकाग्रः श्रद्धयान्वितः
After that, one should recite the Savitri with single-mindedness and faith.
महाव्याहृतयस्तिस्त्रः सर्वाशुभनिबर्हणाः
The three great Vyahritis remove all inauspiciousness.
सत्त्वं रजस्तमस्तिस्त्रः क्रमाद् व्याहृतयः स्मृताः
Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three are remembered as the Vyahritis in order.
एष मन्त्रो महायोगः सारात् सार उदाहृतः
This mantra is the great yoga, declared as the essence of all essences.
विज्ञायार्थं ब्रह्मचारी स याति परमां गतिम्
The student, understanding its meaning, attains the highest state.
न गायत्र्याः परं जप्यमेतद् विज्ञाय मुच्यते
There is no recitation higher than the Gayatri; knowing this, one is liberated.
आषाढ्यां प्रोष्ठपद्यां वा वेदोपाकरणं स्मृतम्
The ceremony of Vedic study is remembered in the month of Ashadha or Proshthapada.
अधीयीत शुचौ देशे ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः
The student should study in a pure place, with concentrated mind.
माघशुक्लस्य वा प्राप्ते पूर्वाह्ने प्रथमे ऽहनि
Or, when the bright fortnight of Magha arrives, in the morning of the first day.
वेदाङ्गानि पुराणानि कृष्णपक्षे च मानवम्
The limbs of the Vedas and the ancient texts, and the Manusmriti in the dark fortnight.
अध्यापनं च कुर्वाणो ह्यभ्यस्यन्नपि यत्नतः
Teaching and diligent practice should be performed even while studying.
आकालिकमनध्यायमेतेष्वाह प्रजापतिः
Prajapati said that these times are unsuitable for study.
तदा विद्यादनध्यायमनृतौ चाभ्रदर्शने
At that time, study is prohibited during the wrong season and when clouds are seen.
एतानाकालिकान् विद्यादनध्यायानृतावपि
These are considered improper times for study, even during the wrong season.
सज्योतिः स्यादनध्यायः शेषरात्रौ यथा दिवा
When there is lightning, study is forbidden at night just as it is during the day.
धर्मनैपुण्यकामानां पूतिगन्धे च नित्यशः
For those who desire righteousness and merit, study is always forbidden in the presence of foul odors.
अनध्यायो रुद्यमाने समवाये जनस्य च
Study is prohibited when there is weeping or when people are gathered together.
उच्छिष्टः श्राद्धबुक् चैव मनसापि न चिन्तयेत्
One should not even think in the mind about study when impure, after eating, or after consuming food offered to ancestors.
त्र्यहं न कीर्तयेद् ब्रह्म राज्ञो राहोश्च सूतके
For three days, one should not recite the Veda during impurity caused by a king, Rāhu, or birth.
विप्रस्य विदुषो देहे तावद् ब्रह्म न कीर्तयेत्
As long as impurity remains in the body of a learned Brāhmaṇa, the Veda should not be recited.
नाधीयीतामिषं जग्ध्वा सूतकान्नाद्यमेव च
One should not study after eating meat or food from a house in mourning.
अमावास्यां चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यष्टमीषु च
On the new moon, fourteenth day, full moon, and eighth days, one should not study.
अष्टकासु त्वहोरात्रं ऋत्वन्त्यासु च रात्रिषु
On the aṣṭakā days, both day and night, and during the nights at the end of the seasons, study is forbidden.
तिस्त्रो ऽष्टकाः समाख्याता कृष्णपक्षेतु सूरिभिः
Three aṣṭakā days are declared by the wise to occur in the dark fortnight.