दूर्वायुग्मत्रयं दद्यात्तस्या हस्ते विचक्षणः । सा प्रक्षिपेत्पुस्तसंधौ शलाकात्रयमन्वनु
The wise one should place a set of three pairs of sacred grasses in her hand; she should then insert three sticks at the joint of the book, one after another.
विसृज्यतां पुनर्दद्याच्छिवाभ्यां नम इत्यथ । पत्रयोर्मध्यमः श्लोकः कार्यसिद्धेर्हि सूचकः
After releasing them, he should again offer them, saying, 'Obeisance to Shiva,' and the middle verse between the leaves is the indicator of the accomplishment of the task.
पूर्वपत्रे समाप्तिः स्याच्छ्लोकस्य यदि राघव । परपत्रे पठेच्छ्लोकं विविच्यार्थमुदीरयेत्
If the verse ends on the previous leaf, O Raghava, it is concluded; if it is on the next leaf, he should read the verse, carefully discerning its meaning.
शनैःशनैः पठेत्प्राज्ञो व्याख्यासेच्च शनैःशनैः । त्वरेह न हि कर्तव्या कुप्यति त्वरया तु गीः
The wise should read slowly and explain slowly; haste should not be made here, for speech becomes disturbed by haste.
घटिकायास्तु पादः स्यादत्वरास्यात्ततोधिका । त्वरयेन्न च वक्तारं ज्ञातव्यांशमनुद्विजम्
A quarter of a ghaṭikā should be allotted, and if there is haste, a little more; the reciter should not be hurried, and the meaning should be understood without agitation.
विविच्य पाठं श्लोकस्य निश्चित्यार्थं च मानसे । प्रतीपं तन्न वक्तव्यं विविच्य रघुनंदन
Having carefully read the verse and determined its meaning in the mind, it should not be spoken contrary to that, O descendant of Raghu.
यदि युक्तमयुक्तं वा श्लोकमन्यं पठेदसौ । पुस्तकस्थं च हित्वैव पूजकः स द्विजो यदि
If he reads another verse, whether appropriate or not, leaving aside the one in the book, if the worshipper is a twice-born,
तत्तथैव हि विज्ञेयं विसंवादो न शस्यते । दैवागतो हि स श्लोको दैवं हि बलवत्तरम्
It should be understood just as it is; contradiction is not praised. That verse has come by divine will, for fate is indeed more powerful.
उपश्रुतिषु यद्वच्च नापराधो द्विजस्य तु । विस्मयो न च कर्तव्यो दैवस्य कुटिला गतिः
And as for what is heard in omens, there is no fault in the twice-born; nor should one be astonished, for the ways of fate are crooked.
यत्तत्पदविपर्यासे पत्रे चोपरिवारिणि । तमादेशं तिरस्कृत्य द्वितीयं तु पठेदतः
When there is a reversal of words, or when the leaf is covered above, disregarding that indication, one should read the second one thereafter.
ततस्तृतीयं पाठ्यं स्यात्ततः कार्यं विवेचनम् । अविसर्गांतपूर्वास्ते पवर्गेतरपंचमाः
Then the third should be read, and after that, discernment should be applied; those ending without visarga, and the fifth of the other groups apart from the pa-class.
स्तुतिलिड्वर्जितः श्लोकः शकुनेषु प्रशस्यते । अध्यायादिः समाप्तिश्च वृथा पत्रं वृथा लिपिः
A verse lacking praise or the verb liṭ is praised among omens; a chapter's beginning or end is futile, as is a leaf or writing in vain.
उक्तानुवचनं चैव द्व्युपस्तुतमथैव च । दग्धपत्रं नष्टलिपिः संदिग्धाक्षरमेव च
Repetition of what has been said, or double praise, a burnt leaf, lost writing, or a doubtful letter—
एतानि शकुने नित्यं वर्जनीयानि पंडितैः । प्रश्नो हि द्विविधो ज्ञेयो दीप्तशांत प्रभेदतः
These are always to be avoided by the learned in omens; a question is to be known as of two kinds, distinguished as blazing or calm.
शांतं च द्विविधं ज्ञेयमुत्पत्तिस्थितिवृद्धितः । तत्र शांतं प्रशस्तं स्याल्लक्षितं पूर्वलक्षणैः
And the calm is to be known as twofold, according to origin, duration, and increase; among these, the calm that is marked by previous signs is commendable.
कार्यभेदास्तु वर्ण्यंते केचिन्मर्त्योपयोगिनः । कस्यचित्कार्यमादाय कश्चित्प्रष्टा भवत्यपि
Differences in action are described, some useful for mortals; someone takes up a certain task, and someone becomes the questioner.
स करोति तदा प्रश्नं समेत्य स्मरतेऽत्र किम् । स पुनर्धार्य पत्रं तत्तस्मिन्पत्रं प्रशस्यते
He then makes the inquiry, remembering what is appropriate there; he should again hold the leaf, and that leaf is praised in this context.
अथवा तत्क्षमोपेतं वैराग्यं परमेव च । यतः कुतश्चिद्दृष्टस्तु स्तुतिपादकमेव च
Or, if it is endowed with patience and supreme detachment, or is seen for some reason, it becomes the basis for praise.
परिहृत्य परं चापि तस्मिन्नर्थे शुभावहम् । मृतो गृह्णाति वागर्थमिति प्रश्नोऽशुभप्रदः
Setting aside the other, even so, in that matter which brings auspiciousness, if the dead receives the meaning of speech, that inquiry brings misfortune.
विवादे विजयप्रश्ने जयद्योतकमिष्यते । सृष्टिरप्यत्र शस्ता स्यात्क्रूरायां क्लेशतो जयः
In a dispute, for a question of victory, that which indicates victory is desired; creation is also auspicious here, but in cruelty, victory comes with suffering.
प्रशांतायामुपायैस्तु मिश्रायां विड्वरो भवेत् । पुरादिवर्णनं यत्तु मध्यमं यदि चोत्तमम्
When calm prevails, by means, or when mixed, the verb liṭ is best; if the description is of the beginning, middle, or highest.
कलिसंभावनायास्तु शृंगारस्योपवर्णने । राज्यनिर्वाहचिंतायां राज्यलिंगंशुभावहम्
For the consideration of the Kali age, or in the description of love, in the concern for the maintenance of a kingdom, the sign of sovereignty brings auspiciousness.
यस्यापि यादृशं योग्यं विचार्य तादृशं बुधैः । स्तुतिवैराग्ययोः कार्यं विलयः परिकीर्तितः
Whatever is suitable for each, having been considered as such by the wise; in the case of praise or detachment, dissolution is declared.
कार्याल्पसिद्धिः स्खलितेन च निर्वाहमृच्छति । तस्यान्यार्थस्यान्यभावो राम शांतिविचारणे
Limited success in action comes from error, and accomplishment is lost; for another meaning, there is no other result, O Rāma, in the consideration of calm.
विसर्गांतश्च पूर्वार्द्ध विपर्यासो भविष्यतः । संकल्पितान्यथाभावो ह्यध्यायस्य समापने
If the first half ends with visarga, there will be reversal; the imagined absence of another at the completion of a chapter.
कांडादेस्तु समाप्तौ तु स्यात्तत्कार्यविनाशनम् । तस्मादेतादृशे दोषे शकुनस्य विपर्ययः
At the end of a section, the destruction of that action occurs; therefore, in such a fault, there is reversal of the omen.
क्षुते पुस्तकपाते च त्वाहते मस्तकादिषु । वक्ता वैमाननं याति ततः शकुननाशनम्
When there is sneezing, the falling of a book, or a blow to the head and similar places, the speaker's omen becomes inauspicious; thus, the omen is destroyed.
तस्मादेतादृशे दोषे शकुनं परिवर्जयेत् । उपमायां भवेद्राम कार्याभासो न वस्तुतः
Therefore, O Rama, one should avoid omens under such faults; in analogy, there may appear to be action, but in reality, there is none.
संतानं भोन्यत्र चोक्ता सृष्टिर्मध्यफलप्रदा । स्तुतिः प्रशस्ता कुत्रापि गुणवत्कार्यनिर्णये
Here, the continuation has been stated, and creation gives intermediate results; praise is commendable anywhere in the determination of virtuous deeds.
विवाहे चौषधे दाने व्यवहारे कृषौ तथा । यथार्था च स्तुती राम निर्वाहेऽपि न दूषणम्
In marriage, medicine, charity, legal matters, and agriculture, O Rama, praise that is appropriate to the situation is not a fault, even in accomplishment.