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,
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.