न स्नानादि करोत्यद्धा स याति नरकं ध्रुवम्
But whoever does not perform bathing and the like certainly goes to hell.
सर्वान्पितॄन्समुद्धृत्य स याति परमं पदम्
He, having lifted up all his ancestors, attains the supreme state.
दिनेदिनेऽश्वमेधानां फलमेति न संशयः 2.4.36.
Day by day, he obtains the fruit of horse sacrifices—of this there is no doubt.
न पापैर्लिप्यते क्वाऽपि पद्मपत्रमिवांऽभसा
He is not tainted by sins anywhere, like a lotus leaf by water.
तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं कः शक्तो दिवि वा भुवि
Who is able to describe the merit of his virtue, whether in heaven or on earth?
कैश्चित्प्राप्तो ब्रह्मभावो दिनत्रयनिषेवणात्
By observing for three days, some have attained the state of Brahmā.
अथ वा कार्त्तिके मासि दिनत्रयनिषेवणात्
Or, in the month of Kārttika, by observing for three days—
न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि
He does not return again, even in hundreds of millions of aeons.
पुण्यं तत्राऽपि वैशेष्यं राकायां वर्ततेऽनघ
Even there, O sinless one, special merit is present on the night of the full moon.
समाप्य सर्वकर्माणि विष्णुपूजां समाचरेत्
Having completed all duties, one should perform the worship of Vishnu.
मंडपं तत्र कुर्वीत कदलीस्तंभमंडितम्
There, one should construct a pavilion adorned with banana pillars.
चित्रवस्त्रैः स्वलंकृत्य तत्र देवं प्रपूजयेत्
Having decorated it with colorful cloths, one should worship the deity there.
शृणुयादूर्जमाहात्म्यं नियमेन शुचिः पुमान् 2.4.36.
A pure man, with discipline, should listen to the greatness of Urja.
मुहूर्तं वाऽपि शृणुयात्कथां पुण्यां दिनेदिने
Or, even for a moment, one should listen daily to the meritorious story.
पुण्यमासेऽथवा पुण्यतिथौ संशृणुयादपि
Or, one may listen during a holy month or on an auspicious date.
पुराणज्ञः शुचिर्दक्षः शांतो विगतमत्सरः
He who knows the Purāṇas, is pure, skilled, peaceful, and free from envy—
व्यासासनं समारूढो यदा पौराणिको भवेत्
When the reciter of the Purāṇas ascends the seat of Vyāsa—
न दुर्जनसमाकीर्णे न शूद्रश्वापदावृते
Not in a place crowded with wicked people, nor one filled with Śūdras or beasts—
श्रद्धाभक्तिसमायुक्ता नाऽन्यकार्येषु लालसा
Those assembled should be endowed with faith and devotion, without longing for other matters.
अभक्ता ये कथां पुण्यां शृण्वंति मनुजाऽधमाः
Those base men who, lacking devotion, listen to the holy story—
पौराणिकं च मासांते पूजयेद्भक्तितत्परः
At the end of the month, one devoted to worship should honor the reciter of the Purāṇas.
शृण्वंति च कथां भक्त्या न दरिद्रा न पापिनः
Those who listen to the story with devotion are neither poor nor sinful.
कथायां कीर्त्यमानायां ये गच्छंत्यन्यतो नराः 2.4.36.
When the story is being recited, those men who go elsewhere—
उच्चासनसमारूढो न नरः प्रणतो भवेत्
Seated on a high seat, a man should not be unbowed.
कथायां कीर्त्यमानायां विघ्नं कुर्वंति ये नराः
Those men who cause obstacles while the story is being recited—
ये श्रावयंति मनुजाः कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम्
Those men who make others hear the auspicious Purāṇic story—
आसनार्थे प्रयच्छति पुराणज्ञस्य ये नराः
Those who offer a seat to one who knows the Purāṇas,
परिधानीयवस्त्राणि प्रयच्छंति च ये नराः
And those who give garments to wear,
वाचके परितुष्टे तु तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः तस्य पुण्यफलं पूर्णं भवत्येव न संशयः
When the reciter is satisfied, all the deities become pleased; his merit is complete, without doubt.
यत्फलं सर्वयज्ञेषु सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम्
Whatever fruit is gained from all sacrifices and all gifts,