शंभुरुवाच- अध्यापने चाध्ययने जायते चाथ संगमः । संगतौ वत्सरं राम याति पातकि पातकम्
Śaṃbhu said: In teaching and in study, union arises, and through union, O Rāma, for a year, the sinner accumulates sin.
पुराणज्ञे तु काकुत्स्थ सर्वतत्वार्थवेदिनि । अपिपातकसंदोह चीर्णपापं प्रणश्यति
But for one who knows the Purāṇas, O descendant of Kakutstha, who understands the essence of all principles, even a heap of great sins is destroyed, and committed sins perish.
प्रभूतवह्निनाशे हि धूमराशिर्यथैव हि । शलभो दीपनाशाय वह्निनाशाय न प्रभुः
Just as, when a great fire is extinguished, a mass of smoke remains, so too a moth, though drawn to the lamp, cannot extinguish the fire.
कृतं पापं तथान्येषां नाशनाय पुराणिकः । भूतादिग्रस्तमर्त्यानां भूतादि भयमोचकः
In the same way, the Purāṇika destroys the sins committed by others; for mortals seized by beings such as spirits, he removes their fear of such beings.
समंत्रवानपनयेद्यथा न स्वयमातुरः । पौराणिकस्तथा पापं न किंचित्प्राप्तुमर्हति
Just as one skilled in mantras removes afflictions but is not himself afflicted, so too the Purāṇika does not deserve to receive any sin.
आत्मना च कृतं पापमन्यैरपि च यत्कृतम् । पुराणज्ञो नाशयति त्वतिदुष्टं स्वकर्म्म वा
Whether the sin is committed by himself or by others, the knower of the Purāṇas destroys it, whether it is exceedingly wicked or his own action.
भवानीशे हृषीकेशे समवृत्तिर्विवेकवान् । लोकवेदक्रियावेत्ता रुद्रजाप्यतिनिःस्पृहः
He is equal-minded toward Bhavānī and Īśa, toward Hṛṣīkeśa, discerning, skilled in worldly and Vedic actions, unattached to Rudra recitations.
तुष्टः शांतः क्रियादक्षः प्रभूतो योगकृद्वशी । यथैव ते पुराणज्ञो वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
He is content, peaceful, adept in rituals, powerful, a practitioner of yoga, self-controlled; just as your Purāṇika was the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha.
नियोगात्तव भूपाल अयोध्यायामतिष्ठत । अपालयद्भुवं कृत्स्नां त्वां च रक्षः समापतत्
By your command, O king, he remained in Ayodhyā, protected the entire earth, and guarded you when danger approached.
स च शुक्रोपदेशेन राक्षसस्त्वामथाभ्यगात् । निद्रासक्तं हनिष्यामि नान्यथावसरस्त्विति
Then, by the instruction of Śukra, the demon came to you, saying, 'I will kill you while you are absorbed in sleep; there is no other opportunity.'
अथ विप्रो विदित्वैतद्वसिष्ठस्त्वद्धितप्रियः । सुप्तं प्रमत्तं काकुत्स्थं रक्षो हंति न संशयः
Then the Brahmin, Vasiṣṭha, who desired your welfare, understood this: 'If the demon finds Kakutstha sleeping and careless, he will surely kill him.'
ब्रह्मावाप्तवरं तद्धि मया कार्यं निवारणम् । इति संचिंत्य विप्रर्षिः सेनामादाय निर्गतः
'That demon has obtained a boon from Brahmā; I must prevent this act.' Thinking thus, the sage took the army and went forth.
रक्षो हंतुमशक्तस्तु मृत्युहीनं ततो मुनिः । स्वयं च राक्षसो भूत्वा वाक्यमाह महामुनिः
Unable to kill the demon, who was free from death, the sage himself became a demon and spoke these words.
किमर्थमागतोसीह वनं मुनिनिषेवितम् । स आह राजा रक्षोघ्नस्तमहं हंतुमागतः
'Why have you come here, to this forest frequented by sages?' He replied, 'I am the king, the slayer of demons; I have come to kill him.'
मुनिरप्याह किं तेन जीवितेन मृतेन वा । भुक्त्वामिषं मदीयं तु युद्धं कृत्वा जयं व्रज
The sage also said: What use is life or death to you? Eat my meat, fight, and attain victory.
राक्षस उवाच- कथं त्वं राक्षसो मह्यं भक्षणाय भविष्यसि । वसिष्ठोऽप्यथ मानुष्यमास्थाय वियति स्थितः
The rākṣasa said: How will you, a rākṣasa, become food for me? Even Vasiṣṭha, having assumed a human form, stands in the sky.
निष्ठीव्य मस्तके तस्य मुष्टिना तमताडयत् । ताडितो राक्षसस्तेन व्यद्रावयदृषिश्च तम्
Spitting on his head, he struck him with his fist; struck by him, the rākṣasa drove the sage away.
पलायमानावन्योन्यं जलधिं तु गतावुभौ । तत्रस्थेन ग्रहेणासौ गृहीतो राक्षसस्तदा
Both, fleeing from each other, reached the ocean; there, the rākṣasa was seized by a resident of that place.
मुनिः पुनरयोध्यायां पूर्ववत्समतिष्ठत । शंभुरुवाच- तस्मात्स्वाभिमतं कुर्यात्पुराणज्ञो विमत्सरः
The sage again remained in Ayodhyā as before. Śaṃbhu said: Therefore, one who knows the Purāṇas, free from envy, should act as he desires.
श्रवणस्य विधानं च कथयामि शुभं शृणु । शुक्लपक्षे दिने शुद्धे वारनक्षत्रयोगतः
I will tell you the auspicious procedure for listening; listen: on a pure day in the bright fortnight, joined with a favorable weekday and constellation,
करणे चापि लग्ने च ग्रहताराबलान्विते । अमूढेन ग्रहे बाले न च वृद्धौ गुरौस्थिते
When the lunar day and ascendant are favorable, and the planets and stars are strong; when the planets are not eclipsed, not in infancy nor in old age, nor when Jupiter is afflicted,
न कृष्णपक्षे ग्रहणे न च नास्तिकसंनिधौ । पूर्वोक्तलक्षणोपेतं पुराणं शृणुयादिति
Not during the dark fortnight, not during an eclipse, nor in the presence of atheists; one should listen to the Purāṇa endowed with the previously mentioned characteristics.
शुद्धगेहेऽथवा शुद्धवेदिकायां मठेथ वा । नदीतीरे देवगेहे सभामंडप एव च
In a pure house, or on a clean altar, or even in a monastery; on a riverbank, in a temple, or in a public hall,
रथ्या मठेथ वा रम्ये पुण्यशालासु राघव । स्वयं नमस्य विप्रेंद्रान्पुराणज्ञं विशेषतः
Or in a beautiful street or in a hall of merit, O Rāghava; one should personally honor the foremost brāhmaṇas, especially the knower of the Purāṇas.
आसनं कल्पितं कुर्य्यादूर्ध्वं सर्वविशेषितम् । एहि धर्म्मासनमिति वक्तव्यं स्यादनिष्ठुरम्
One should prepare a distinguished seat above all others, and gently say, 'Come, O seat of dharma.'
पुराणप्रक्रमदिने यत्कार्यं तदुदीरयेत् । व्याख्यातारं पुराणस्य वस्त्राद्यैः परिपूजयेत्
On the day the Purāṇa is commenced, one should declare the intended act, and honor the expounder of the Purāṇa with garments and other gifts.
शुभानि दत्वा वस्त्राणि सूक्ष्माणि च नवानि च । करकंठविभूषादि पात्रमासनमेव च
Giving auspicious, fine, and new garments, as well as a water pot, a neck ornament, and a vessel or seat,
गंधपुष्पाक्षतैः पूज्य तांबूलं विनिवेद्य च । शुक्लांबरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम्
One should worship with fragrance, flowers, and unbroken rice, and offer betel; then meditate on Viṣṇu, clad in white, moon-hued, four-armed.
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत्सर्वविघ्नोपशांतये । सभासदश्च संपूज्य गणेशं प्रार्थयेत्ततः
One should meditate on his gracious face to remove all obstacles; after honoring the assembly, one should then pray to Gaṇeśa.
ॐनमेत्यादि मंत्रेण पूजनं भारती नुतिः । प्रातःकाले पुराणस्य प्रक्रमं प्रारभेदिति
With the mantra beginning with 'oṃ namah,' one should perform worship and praise Sarasvatī; in the morning, one should begin the recitation of the Purāṇa.