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,
कलौ युगे विशेषेण पुराणश्रवणादृते पुराणश्रवणाद्विष्णोर्नास्ति संकीर्तनात्परम्
Especially in the Kali age, apart from hearing the Purāṇa, there is nothing higher than the recitation of Viṣṇu's Purāṇa.
य एतदूर्जमाहात्म्यं शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेदपि
Whoever hears or causes others to hear this greatness of Ūrja,
सर्वरोगापहं सर्वपापनाशकरं शुभम् ।। 2.4.36.
It removes all diseases, destroys all sins, and is auspicious.
श्रुत्वा चैकपदे यो वै अगम्यागमने रतः
Even one who is devoted to forbidden acts, upon hearing even a single verse,
माहात्म्यमेतदाकर्ण्य पूजयेद्यस्तु पाठकम्
Who, having heard this greatness, honors the reciter,
धर्मशास्त्रं पुराणं च वेदविद्यादिकं च यत् पुराणविद्यादातारो ह्यनंतफलभोगिनः
Those who give Dharmaśāstra, Purāṇa, or Vedic knowledge—such givers of Purāṇic wisdom enjoy endless rewards.
इदं यः पठते भक्त्या श्रुत्वा चैवाऽवधारयेत्
Whoever recites this with devotion and listens attentively,
न कस्याऽपीदमाख्येयं श्रद्धाहीनाय दुर्मतेः
This should not be told to anyone lacking faith or of wicked mind.
अपूजयित्वा गुरुमग्रबुद्ध्या धर्मप्रवक्तारमनन्यबुद्धिः
Without honoring the teacher, with a mind not devoted, one should not approach the expounder of dharma.
तस्मात्संपूजयेद्भक्त्या गुरुं तत्त्वावबोधकम्
Therefore, one should devotedly honor the teacher who reveals the truth.
न शक्यते हि संपूर्णं वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि
Indeed, it cannot be fully spoken even in a hundred years.
कार्तिकस्य तु माहात्म्यं यावद्वर्षशतं वदन्
Even if one speaks of the greatness of Kārtika for a hundred years,
पुत्रार्थी च धनार्थी च राज्यार्थी स्वफलं लभेत् 2.4.36.
One who desires sons, wealth, or kingdom attains his own desired result.
भूयोभूयो नमस्कृत्य ययौ यादृच्छिको मुनिः
Having bowed again and again, the sage departed as he wished.
कथितं शंकरेणाऽपि पुत्राय हितकाम्यया
This was also spoken by Śaṃkara to his son, out of desire for his welfare.
कृष्णेन सत्यभामायै कार्तिकस्य च वैभवः
Kṛṣṇa revealed the glory of Kārtika to Satyabhāmā.
ऋषयो वालखिल्येभ्यः श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
The sages, having heard the supreme greatness from the Vālakhilyas,
अधीत्य सर्वशास्त्राणि पयःसारमिवोद्धृतम्
Having studied all the scriptures, they extracted the essence as one would draw out the best from milk.
विरराम ततस्ते तु पूजां चक्रुस्तदास्य च
Then they ceased, and at that time performed worship for him.
ते पुनः स्वाश्रमं गत्वा हृष्टास्ते परमर्षयः
Those eminent sages, joyful, returned again to their hermitage.