स्वरान्तं तादृशं विद्याद्यदन्यव्द्यक्तमूष्मणः
One should know as 'vowel-ending' that which is of such a kind, except for the indistinct sibilants.
द्वितीयं स्थानमापन्नाः शषसप्रत्यया यदि
If the 'sha', 'ṣa', or 'sa' affixes reach the second position,
न चैतान्प्रतिजानीयाद्यथा मत्स्यः क्षुरोप्सराः
One should not acknowledge them, just as a fish (does not notice) a razor in the water.
ऋचः स्वच्छन्दवृत्तास्तु पादास्त्वक्षरमानतः
The Ṛg verses have free meter, and the feet are measured by the number of syllables.
प्रत्ययेत सहारेफमिमीते स्वरभक्तया
The affix, together with the 'repha', is measured by the division of the vowel.
विद्याल्लघुमृकारं तु यदि तूष्माणसंयुतः
One should recognize a light 'ṛ' if it is joined with a sibilant.
गुरुवर्णः स विज्ञेयस्तृचं चात्र निदर्शनम्
The guru syllable is to be understood; here, the example is the threefold verse.
निरृतिपञ्चमा ह्यत्र ऋकारा नात्र संशयः
Here, the fifth is Nirṛti; there is no doubt that it is marked by the syllable 'ṛ'.
इउवर्णाभ्यां हीना क्वचिदेकपदाक्रमवियुक्ता
Sometimes, lacking both 'i' and 'u' vowels, a verse is separated from the sequence of single words.
स्वरोदा व्यञ्जनोदा च विहिताक्षरचिन्तकैः
With the consideration of prescribed syllables, both vowel and consonant sounds are established.
शषसेषु विवृतां तु हकारे संवृतां विदुः
Among the 'ṣa' and 'sa' letters, the open form is known; with 'ha', the closed form is recognized.
इकारं चाप्युकारं ग्रस्तदोषं तथैव च
The 'i' and 'u' vowels, as well as those affected by faults, are likewise included.
अथ सान्तिक च नङ्मसानुस्वारं घुटतं च
Next, the final nasal, the anusvāra, and the guttural nasal are also considered.
यस्या लक्षणमुक्तं या त्वन्या सा स्मृता विपुला
That which has the stated characteristics is so defined; the other is called 'vipulā'.
तत्संयोगोत्तरं विद्याद्गुरुदार्घाक्षराणि तु
After such combinations, one should know that the syllables are long and heavy.
विवृत्तिर् यत्र दृश्यते स्वारस्यैवाग्रतः स्थितः
Where the open form is seen, it stands before its own vowel.
अष्टप्रकारं विज्ञेयं पदानां स्वरलक्षणम्
The characteristics of the tones of words are to be understood as eightfold.
मध्योदात्तं स्वरितं द्विरुदात्तमित्येता अष्टौ पदसंज्ञाः
Middle raised, tonal, and twice raised—these are the eight designations of words.
सर्वाणि प्रचयस्थान्युपोदात्तं निहन्यते
All those placed in the collection are struck with the initial raised tone.
स्वरितः केवलो यत्र मृदुस्तत्र निपातयेत्
Where only the tonal accent occurs, let the soft accent be applied there.
अत्रोच्यते श्रेयः खलु वैश्याः प्रतिज्ञातोच्चारणा यस्य कस्यचिद्वर्णस्य करणं नोपलभ्यते प्रतिज्ञा तत्र वोढव्याकरणं हि तदात्मकम्
Here it is said: the excellence indeed is for the Vaiśyas; if the pronunciation of any syllable is not found, then the statement must be carried according to its own grammar.
सामसु निभृतं करणं स्वरसौक्ष्म्यान्नैव जानीयुः
In the Sāma hymns, the pronunciation is subdued; due to the subtlety of the tones, it is not known.
जीर्णो हारः प्रबुद्धः खलूषसिन्ब्रह्म चिन्तयेत्
When the garland is worn out and awakened, the Brahmin should contemplate the essence.
यावद्वासंतिकी रात्रिर्मध्यमा पर्युपस्थिता
As long as the night of residence, the middle one, is present.
वाग्यतः प्रातरुत्थाय भक्षयेद्द्वतधावनम्
Having restrained his speech, rising early in the morning, he should eat the two-grained rice.
सर्वे कण्टकिनः पुण्याः क्षीरिणश्च यशस्विनः
All thorny plants are meritorious, and those that yield milk are renowned.
वर्णांश्च कुरुते सम्यक्प्राचीनौदवतिर्यथा
He should properly utter the syllables, just as one crosses the eastern river.
अग्निमेधाजनन्येषा स्वरवर्णकरी तथा
These are born from the fire-sacrifice, and likewise they produce the proper sounds.
पीत्वा मधुं घृतं चैव शुचिर्भूत्वा ततो वदेत्
After drinking honey and ghee, and having become pure, then he should speak.
सप्तमन्त्रानतिक्रम्य यथेष्टां वाचमुत्सृजेत्
Without omitting the seven mantras, he may utter speech as he wishes.