अथर्वशिरसो ऽध्येता रुद्राध्यायी विशेषतः
One who recites the Atharvaśiras, especially the Rudrādhyāya—
मन्त्रब्राह्मणविच्चैव यश्च स्याद् धर्मपाठकः
One who knows the mantras and Brāhmaṇas, or who is a reciter of dharma texts—
ब्रह्मदेयानुसंतानो गर्भशुद्धः सहस्रदः
One whose lineage is devoted to gifts for Brahmins, whose womb is pure, who gives a thousandfold.
गुरुदेवाग्निपूजासु प्रसक्तो ज्ञानतत्परः
One who is devoted to worship of teacher, gods, and fire, and who is intent on knowledge.
महादेवार्चनरतो वैष्णवः पङ्क्तिपावनः
One who is engaged in worship of Mahadeva, who is Vaishnava, who purifies the dining line.
सत्रिणो दाननिरता विज्ञेयाः पङ्क्तिपावनाः
Those who perform sacrifices and are devoted to giving are to be known as purifiers of the dining line.
सावित्रीजापनिरता ब्राह्मणाः पङ्क्तिपावनाः
Brahmins devoted to recitation of Savitri are purifiers of the dining line.
अग्निचित्स्नातका विप्रा विज्ञेयाः पङ्क्तिपावनाः
Brahmins who have bathed after building the fire altar are to be known as purifiers of the dining line.
अध्यात्मविन्मुनिर्दान्तो विज्ञेयः पङ्क्तिपावनः
A sage who knows the Self, who is restrained, is to be known as a purifier of the dining line.
श्रद्धालुः श्राद्धनिरतो ब्राह्मणः पङ्क्तिपावनः
A Brahmin who is faithful and devoted to performing ancestral rites is a purifier of the dining line.
अथर्वणो मुमुक्षुश्च ब्राह्मणः पङ्क्तिपावनः
A Brahmin who follows the Atharva Veda and who seeks liberation is a purifier of the dining line.
असंबन्धी च विज्ञेयो ब्राह्मणः पङ्क्तिपावनः
A Brahmin who is unattached is to be known as a purifier of the dining line.
अलाभे नैष्ठिकं दान्तमुपकुर्वाणकं तथा
If none are found, one should feed a Naiṣṭhika, a restrained one, or an Upakurvāṇa.
सर्वालाभे साधकं वा गृहस्थमपि भोजयेत्
If none at all are available, one may feed even a householder who is striving.
फलं वेदविदां तस्य सहस्रादतिरिच्यते
The fruit for those who know the Vedas exceeds that of giving a thousandfold.
भोजयेद् हव्यकव्येषु अलाभादितरान् द्विजान्
One should feed other twice-borns in offerings of oblations if the others are not found.
अनुकल्पस्त्वयं ज्ञेयः सदा सद्भिरनुष्ठितः
This is to be known as the substitute procedure, always practiced by the virtuous.
दौहित्रं विट्पतिं बन्धुमृत्विग्याज्यौ च भोजयेत्
One should feed the daughter's son, the lord of speech, a relative, the officiating priest, and the sacrificer.
पैशाची दक्षिणा सा हि नैवामुत्र फलप्रदा
That southern offering is demonic; it does not yield fruit in the next world.
द्विषता हि हविर्भुक्तं भवति प्रेत्य निष्फलम्
Indeed, oblations eaten by an enemy become fruitless after death.
तस्मै हव्यं न दातव्यं न हि भस्मनि हूयते
One should not offer oblations to him, for indeed, offerings are not poured into ashes.
तथानृचे हविर्दत्त्वा न दाता लभते फलम्
Likewise, if an oblation is given to one who does not recite the Ṛc, the giver does not obtain the fruit.
तावतो ग्रसते प्रेत्य दीप्तान् स्थूलांस्त्वयोगुडान्
After death, he consumes as many blazing, coarse lumps as the number of such acts.
यत्रैते भुञ्जते हव्यं तद् भवेदासुर द्विजाः
Where these (unworthy ones) consume the offering, O twice-born, that becomes demonic.
स वै दुर्ब्राह्मणो नार्हः श्राद्धादिषु कदाचन
Such a wicked brāhmaṇa is never fit for śrāddha or similar rites.
बधबन्धोपजीवी च षडेते ब्रह्मबन्धवः
One who lives by slaughter or bondage—these six are merely brāhmaṇa-bandhus.
वेदविक्रायिणो ह्येते श्राद्धादिषु विगर्हिताः
Those who sell the Veda are indeed condemned in śrāddha and similar rites.
असमानान् याजयन्ति पतितास्ते प्रकीर्तिताः
Those who officiate for the unqualified are declared fallen.
अधीयते तथा वेदान् पतितास्ते प्रकीर्तिताः
Likewise, those who teach the Vedas (to the unqualified) are declared fallen.
कापालिकाः पाशुपताः पाषण्डा ये च तद्विधाः
Kāpālikas, Pāśupatas, Pāṣaṇḍas, and others of that kind—