शुद्धगेहेऽथवा शुद्धवेदिकायां मठेथ वा । नदीतीरे देवगेहे सभामंडप एव च
In a pure house, or on a clean altar, or in a monastery, or on a riverbank, or in a temple, or in a public hall, the Purāṇa should be recited.
रथ्या मठेथ वा रम्ये पुण्यशालासु राघव । स्वयं नमस्य विप्रेंद्रान्पुराणज्ञं विशेषतः
Or, O Rāghava, it may be recited in a pleasant street or in a hall of merit; one should personally honor the foremost Brāhmaṇas, especially those learned in the Purāṇas.
आसनं कल्पितं कुर्य्यादूर्ध्वं सर्वविशेषितम् । एहि धर्म्मासनमिति वक्तव्यं स्यादनिष्ठुरम्
A special seat should be prepared above all others, and one should gently say, 'Come, this is the seat of dharma.'
पुराणप्रक्रमदिने यत्कार्यं तदुदीरयेत् । व्याख्यातारं पुराणस्य वस्त्राद्यैः परिपूजयेत्
On the day of commencing the Purāṇa, the necessary rites should be performed, and the expounder of the Purāṇa should be honored with garments and other gifts.
शुभानि दत्वा वस्त्राणि सूक्ष्माणि च नवानि च । करकंठविभूषादि पात्रमासनमेव च
Having given auspicious, fine, and new garments, as well as ornaments for the hand and neck, vessels, and a seat,
गंधपुष्पाक्षतैः पूज्य तांबूलं विनिवेद्य च । शुक्लांबरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम्
One should worship with fragrant substances, flowers, and unbroken rice, and offer betel; then meditate on Viṣṇu, clad in white garments, moon-like in color, and four-armed.
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत्सर्वविघ्नोपशांतये । सभासदश्च संपूज्य गणेशं प्रार्थयेत्ततः
To remove all obstacles, one should meditate on Viṣṇu with a serene face; 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, the recitation of the Purāṇa should be commenced.
उपक्रमदिने राम त्रिपंचदश वा शुभाः । श्लोका द्वितीये दिवसे ततो द्विगुणिताः शुभाः
On the first day, O Rāma, fifteen auspicious verses are to be recited; on the second day, twice as many auspicious verses should be recited.
तृतीये दिवसे राम ततश्चाधिकमिष्यते । दिनानामव्यवच्छेदाद्व्याख्यानं श्रवणं तथा
On the third day, O Rāma, even more are to be recited; there should be no interruption in the days, both in explanation and in listening.
व्यवस्थितिर्यदा जाता तदा पौराणिकं गुरुम् । तांबूलादिप्रदायाथ परेद्युः शृणुयादपि
When the arrangement is thus established, the Purāṇic teacher should be given betel and other offerings, and on the next day, one should listen again.
पुराणमेवं श्रोतव्यं दैनंदिनमिति श्रुतिः । व्रतरूपेण यः कश्चित्पुराणं शृणुयान्नरः
Thus, the Purāṇa should be heard daily, as prescribed; whoever listens to the Purāṇa as a vow,
यदैवं तत्पुराणं तु तत्र याति न संशयः । पुराणं श्रोतुकामेन श्लोकश्चैकोपि चेच्छ्रुतः
Whenever one listens to that Purāṇa, there is no doubt about the result; even if only a single verse is heard by one desiring to listen,
तद्दिने तु कृतं पापं नाशयेत्तु न संशयः
The sin committed on that day is destroyed—of this there is no doubt.
एवं पुराणं शृणुयाच्च यस्तु स ब्रह्महत्याकृतपापबंधात् । सुरापीतिः स्वर्णहरश्च राम गुर्वंगनागश्च विमुक्तिमेति
Whoever thus listens to the Purāṇa, even if he has committed the sins of killing a Brāhmaṇa, drinking liquor, stealing gold, or approaching a teacher’s wife, O Rāma, is liberated.
पापानि चान्यानि कृतानि पुंभिः सर्वाणि नश्यंति पुराकृतानि । इहापि यान्यब्दशतार्जितानि श्रोतुर्विनश्यंति तथा च वक्तुः
All other sins committed by men, even those accumulated over a hundred years in this life, are destroyed for both the listener and the reciter.
कलौ समस्तविप्राणां सर्वज्ञत्वं न विद्यते । विगुणापि ततो व्याख्या फलदा दानकर्मवत्
In the Kali age, the complete knowledge of all the Brahmins does not exist; therefore, even an imperfect explanation bears fruit, like the act of giving charity.
पुराणानामभिप्रायं व्यासो वेद न चापरः । अहं वेद्मि विशेषेण व्यासादपि विधेरपि
Vyāsa alone knows the true intent of the Purāṇas, and no one else; I know it especially, even more than Vyāsa and even than Brahmā.
न स्वाध्यायस्तपो वापि न मंत्रो न जुहोतयः । फलंति न तथा तिष्ये पुराणश्रवणं यथा
Neither self-study, nor austerity, nor mantra, nor sacrificial offerings yield results as surely as listening to the Purāṇa does.
एकैकश्रवणादेव पातकं महदेव तु । नाशमाप्नोत्यसंदेहः श्रीशैले वर्तनादिव
By merely hearing it once, O Mahādeva, even a great sin is destroyed without doubt, just as by residing at Śrīśaila.
अतो गुरुः पुराणज्ञः श्रोतृवंद्योऽघनाशनः । न तस्मादधिकः कश्चिद्गुरुरस्ति गतिप्रदः
Therefore, the teacher who knows the Purāṇas, who is to be revered by listeners and destroys sin—there is no greater teacher than he, the giver of liberation.
मंत्रेषु गुरवो ये च वेदशास्त्रेषु ये मताः । नेशते सर्वविज्ञानं दातुं तस्मान्न बोधकाः
Those who are considered teachers of mantras and Vedic scriptures are not able to impart all knowledge; therefore, they are not true enlighteners.
पिशाचाः प्रायशो राम ब्रह्मराक्षसनामिनः । वेदमंत्रस्य वेत्तारो दृश्यंते न पुराणवित्
O Rāma, those known as Piśācas or Brahma-rākṣasas are often seen to know Vedic mantras, but not the meaning of the Purāṇas.
पुराणविमुखो नैव सर्वः सर्वं हि पश्यति । पुराणज्ञो हि तस्तस्मात्पापनाशकरः प्रभुः
One who is averse to the Purāṇas does not see everything, for only the knower of the Purāṇas, therefore, is the lord who destroys sin.
तत्पूजा सर्वपूजा स्यात्सर्वद्रोहोऽस्य पीडनम् । यथा समस्तदानानां विद्यादानं प्रशस्यते
Worship of him is the worship of all; harming him is enmity with all, just as the gift of knowledge is praised above all gifts.
पौराणिकस्तथा धन्यस्तत्र दानं महत्फलम् । राम उवाच-। किं वा पौराणिके देयं कियत्कीदृशमेव च
Likewise, the Purāṇika is blessed, and giving to him yields great fruit. Rāma said: What should be given to the Purāṇika, and of what kind and how much?
पुराणं कीदृशं वर्ज्यं वर्ज्यः कीदृक्पुराणवित् । शंभुरुवाच- षड्रसानन्नपानानि स्नेहद्रव्याणि यानि च
Which kind of Purāṇa should be avoided, and which kind of Purāṇa-knower should be avoided? Śambhu said: Foods and drinks of six tastes, and all substances containing oil—
गृहं सोपस्करं राम पुराणज्ञाय दापयेत् । पर्याप्तान्येव सर्वाणि अधिकानि फलाधिकात्
A house with its furnishings, O Rāma, should be given to the knower of the Purāṇas; all should be sufficient, and more yields greater fruit.
दद्याद्द्रव्यमतो भूयः सचैलं शोभितं मृदु । भूषणानि यथार्हाणि स्वशक्त्या प्रतिपादयेत्
Therefore, one should give more valuable items, with garments, beautiful and soft; ornaments as appropriate, according to one's ability.
गंधपुष्पं प्रतिदिनं केवलं गंधमेव च । केवलं च तथा पुष्पं फलकाले फलान्यपि
One should offer fragrance and flowers daily, or only fragrance, or only flowers, and fruits as they are in season.