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.
स्वरव्यण्डजनमाधुर्यं लुप्यते नात्र संशयः
The sweetness of vowels and consonants is lost—of this there is no doubt.
कुतीर्थादागतं दग्धमपवर्णैश्च भक्षितम् न तस्य परिमोक्षो ऽस्ति पापाहेरिव किल्बिषात्
Food brought from an improper place, burnt, or eaten with wrong syllables—there is no release from its fault, just as for a sinner from sin.
सुस्वरेण स्ववक्रेण प्रयुक्तं ब्रह्म राजति न तकालो न लंबोष्टो न च सर्वानुनासिकः
Brahman shines when uttered with a sweet and one's own clear voice—not with a nasal, not with thick lips, nor with all nasalized sounds.
गद्गदो बद्धजिह्वश्च प्रयोगान्वक्तुमर्हति
One who stammers or whose tongue is tied is still fit to recite the usages.
स तु वर्णान्प्रयुञ्जीत देतोष्ठं यस्य शोभनम्
But he should pronounce the syllables whose lips are well-formed.
अलसाश्च सरोगाश्च येषां च विसृतं मनः
Those who are lazy, diseased, or whose minds are scattered—
शनैरध्वसु वर्तेत योजनान्न परं व्रजेत्
They should proceed slowly on the path and not go beyond a yojana.
अगच्छन्वैनतेयो ऽपि पदमेकं न गच्छति
Even Garuda, if he does not go, does not move a single step.
बधिरस्येव जल्पस्य विदग्धा वामलोचना
Like the speech of a deaf person, or a clever woman with hostile eyes.
अपि रूपसहस्रेषु संदेहेष्वेव वर्तते
Even among a thousand forms, she remains in doubt.
राजते न सभामध्येजारगर्भेव कामिनी
She does not shine in the midst of the assembly, like a woman in the womb of an old man.
अवन्ध्यं दिवसं कुर्याद्दानाध्ययनकर्मसु
One should make the day fruitful by giving, studying, and performing duties.
न तत्र बलसामर्थ्यमुद्योगस्गतत्र कारणम्
There, neither strength nor ability nor effort is the cause.
आगमिष्यति जिह्वाग्रे स्थलान्निम्नमिवोदकम्
It will come to the tip of the tongue, just as water flows from a higher to a lower place.
नहि वाद्यार्थिनां निद्रा चिरं नेत्रेषु तिष्टति
Sleep does not remain long in the eyes of those who desire knowledge.
समुद्रमपि विद्यार्थी व्रजेद्गरुडहंसवत्
Even the ocean is crossed by the seeker of knowledge, like Garuda or a swan.
राक्षसीभ्य इव स्रिभ्यः स विद्यामधिगच्छति
He attains knowledge from the wealthy, just as one takes from demons.
न च लोकरवा दीना न च स्वस्वप्रतीक्षकाः
They are neither disturbed by the noise of the world nor do they wait for their own comfort.
एवं गुरुगतां विद्यां शूश्रूषुरधिगच्छति
In this way, one who serves the teacher attains the knowledge that resides with the teacher.
अथवा विद्यया विद्या ह्यन्यथा नोपपद्यते
Or, knowledge is gained through knowledge; otherwise, it does not arise.