Reciting and Listening to Puranas Is Meritorious

1. О best brahmana, how did (the brahmana) knowing the Purajja explain it to the mean brahmana to whom heaps of sins had come?

2-7. Union takes place in teaching and learning. When they go together, О Rama, in a year the sin of a sinner goes away. О you descendant of Kakutstha, when the knower (i.e. the reader) of а Ригаца knows all the essential things, then even repeated heap of sins perishes, as the heap (i.e. column) of smoke perishes when a large fire perishes. A moth is capable of destroying a lamp, (but) not (capable of) destroying fire. As one who frees the mortals seized with the fear of ghosts etc., so a public reader of Puranas destroys the sin committed by others. One who knows a spell would send away (the ghost etc.), and not he who is afflicted. Similarly, a public reader of Puranas does not receive any sin. One who knows Puranas, destroys the sin committed by himself or by others, and even (the fruit of) a very wicked sin.

8-11. One who has discrimination looks equally upon (Shiva) the lord ofParvatiandupon Vishnu. He knows the acts of the world and those that are told in the Vedas; he mutters the.RudraC-hymn); he is very desireless. He is contented; he is calm; he is diligent in work; he is mature; he practises abstract meditation; and is controlled, as your reader of Puranas — -the revered sage Vasishtha — is, who has remained by your command in Ayodhya and has protected the entire earth. The demon rushed to you. At the advice of Shukra the demon came to (attack) you. (He thought:) T shall kill him when he is asleep. Otherwise there is no chance.’

12-16. Then the brahmaga Vasishtha, to whom your wellbeing was dear, knowing this (thought:) ‘There is no doubt that the demon will kill Rama who is asleep and unaware. The demon has obtained a boon from Brahma. I have to keep him oif’. Thinking like this, the brahmana sage took the army and went out. The sage was unable to kill the demon who was immune to death. Then the great sage himself became a demon and said (these) words: “Why have you come to this forest resorted to by sages?” He said: “The king (i.e. Rama) kills the demons. I have come to kill him.” The sage said: “What have you to do with him, alive or dead? Having eaten my flesh, and having fought with me, go (back).”

Then Vasishtha too, becoming a human being, stood in the sky (i.e. air). He spat on his head and struck him with his fist. He struck the demon. The sage made him flee. The two running (after each other) went to the ocean. At that time, the demon was seized by a crocodile living there. The sage was in Ayodhya as before.

20b-22. Therefore, he who knows a Purapa, should do what is agreeable to him. I shall tell you the auspicious manner of listening (to a Purapa). On a holy day in the bright half (of a month), when the day and constellation are in union, when there is the (proper) Karapa, an auspicious moment, when there is the strength of the planets and stars, when old Jupiter remains with a young, wise Planet (a Purapa should be heard).

23-25a. (It should not be heard) in a dark fortnight, on an eclipse-day, or in the vicinity of an atheist. A man should listen to a Puraga having the characteristics as stated before.

(He should listen to it) in a pure house, or on a pure altar, or in a place of learning, on the bank of a river, in a temple, in an assembly hall, in a beautiful monastery on the road, or in auspicious halls, О Rama.

25b-30a. Having himself saluted the best brahmanas, and especially him who knows the Purapa, a man should fashion a seat above (all other seats) and superior to all (other seats). He should gently say (to the reader of the Purapa): “Come to (this) religious seat.” He should declare what is to be done on the day of the commencement of (the recital of) the Purapa. Having given the expounder of the Purapa auspicious, fine, new garments and ornaments for his hands, neck etc., so also a proper seat, he should honour him with garments etc. After having worshipped Vishnu having the complexion like that of the moon and having four hands, and having put on a white garment, with sandal, flowers and sacred grains, and having offered him a tambula, he should, for the removal of all difficulties, reflect upon him, of a pleasing face.

30b-34. Having honoured the members of the assembly, he should then pray to Gapesa. He should worship him with the hymn: От namab etc. (Then should follow) the eulogy of Sarasvati. The commencement (of the recital) of the Purapa should be done in the morning. О Rama, on the day of commencement three, five or ten auspicious verses (should be read). Double this number (should be read) on the second day. О Rama, (the reading of) more verses than on the second day is prescribed for the third day. The narration and the hearing should go on without a break on all days. When (proper) arrangement is made, he should give the preceptor, the reader of the Purapa, tambula etc. and should also listen to it on the next day.

35-39. The scripture says that every day Purapa should be listened to. If a man listens to the Purapa as a vow, he undoubtedly goes to that place wherefrom the Purapa (has come). There is no doubt that the sin committed on the day would perish, if he who desires to listen to (the reoital of) the Purapa, has, heard even one verse. He who would listen to the Purapa like this, would be free from the bond of the sin of a brahmana’s murder; so also from (sins due to) drinking liquor, snatching gold, and the sin due to (enjoying) his teacher’s wife. So also all the other sins which are committed and were formerly committed by men (perish). So also sins committed by the listener and the speaker in this world (perish).

40-49a. In Kaliyuga all brahmanas do not know all things. Therefore, even if the narration is faulty, it gives fruit like the act of charity. Vyasa, and none else, understood the import of the Puranas. I know it especially more than even Vyasa or even Brahma. In Kaliyuga, self-study, penance, hymns or oblation do not become so fruitful as listening to Purana (is fruitful). There is no doubt that by listening to each Purana even great sin perishes, as by living on Srlsaila. Therefore, the knower of Purana is the preceptor. He is venerable to the listeners and destroys (their) sins. There is no preceptor superior to him who would give the highest position. Those preceptors who are regarded as knowers of the hymns and Vedas, are not capable of giving all knowledge. Therefore, they are not teachers. О Rama, generally goblins who are the ghosts of brahmanas know the Vedic hymns, and not ones who know the Puranas. All who are averse to Puranas do not see (i.e. know) everything. Therefore, one who knows Puranas is a master who destroys sins. His worship is the worship of all. Troubling him is offending all. As among all gifts, gift of knowledge is praised, in the same way the public reader of Puranas is blessed; and giving a gift to him gives great fruit.

49b-50a. What should be given to the public reader of Puranas? How much (should be given)? In what way (should it be given)? What kind of Purana should be avoided? What kind of the reader of Puranas should be avoided?

50b-54a. О Rama, a man should cause to give (i.e. should give) (the eatables having) the six flavours, food, drinks, oily substances, a house with furniture. All these are sufficient. (If) more (are given) greater fruit (is had). He should also give much wealth, a soft, decorated garment, ornaments of proper value.

(These) he should give according to his capacity. Every day he should give sandal, flowers, or only sandal, or merely a flower, and seasonal fruits also. Similarly he should give him a tambula, and salute him devoutly.

54b-58. At the close (of the reading session) of the Puraija, he should give gifts etc. О king, more (things) like land, gold etc. should also be given. Nobody remaining silent (i.e. not giving anything) should listen (to the Purana). The worship (should be) done by the members of the assembly or by one only. At a temple worship should be done by all according to their capacity. О Rama, a man should honour the knower of Puranas at a sacred place. О king, I have already told you the characteristics of a listener. I shall now tell you about the characteristics of a public reader of Puraijas.

59-60. (A public reader of Puragas having the characteristics mentioned below should be avoided:) A man without a family (i.e. one not born in a noble family), a man having a great (i.e. an incurable) disease, a great sinner, a man who is condemned, a man without pure conduct, a man without (i.e. not versed in) Vedas and codes of laws. Also, a man having (i.e. a devotee of) another god, a man having a stinking speech, a defective man or a man having an additional limb, a man who has married a woman having a husband, a thief, one who harms beings and one who is condemned.

61-64. О best king, now I shall tell you about the Ригаца that should be avoided. (The reader) should recite that Purapa which is narrated by the ancient wise ones, or one which is narrated by the great sages, or which the sages like Vyasa have narrated. He should read the text of the Puraija, and should explain it after (properly) thinking over it in any language (like) a regional language, О Rama. A man would not get the (desired) fruit by listening to a text in the regional language. Whatever the explanation, it is good for the Puraija. Therefore, О lord, ask for the Puraija which I shall (i.e. should) expound.

65-68a. Thus spoke the public reader of the Purajja. Gautama also listened to it. He himself gave three garments to the noble brahmana. It is learnt by us that he first listened to the Kaurma Purapa. He gave the (reader) more gold and bright garments. Then he listened to Lainga (Purapa), then to Vaishpava and Vamana also. So also to Padma, Garu^a, and Saura, and Brahma as well. Thus that Gautama listened to eight Puranas.

68b-73. Then he listened to Ramayapa, and also to Kaurma again. He always muttered the hymn Shiva Narayana. He died, and went to Brahma’s place. Brahma honoured that brahmana who then went to Vishnu’s heaven. Being honoured by Vishnu, he then went to Shiva’s abode. That best sage Gautama was honoured by all. I have also narrated the rules for listening to Bharata. Formerly Vyasa composed that auspicious book in three years. By listening to it (a man gets religious merit). He who expounds Bharata should not salute any brahmana except an excellent meditating sage. He who expounds Bharata should be honoured by all.

74-77. That brahmana who every day expounds or would read Mahabharata, is superior to all, and would emancipate all men. He who expounds one parvan or all parvans or some parvans, becomes free from all sins, and is distinguished in the offering to gods and deceased ancestors. A man should salute that brahmana only; he should honour that worthy brahmana only; he should always feed him only; he should offer everything to him. The manner of honouring him at the time of exposition (is:). He should be honoured with garments etc. and a man should honour him according to the rules.

78-81. At the conclusion (of the recital) of Adiparvan, (a man) should give (the reader) three garments, so also gold according to his capacity. At (the conclusion of the recital of) Sabhaparvan, a pair of garments (should be given). At the conclusion of the recital of AnuSasika, Arapya and Svargaroha, the same (kind of) honour should be done (to the reader) as is done at the time (of the conclusion of the recital) of the Adiparvan, О best among men. At (the conclusion of the recital of the) Karpa, Aivamedha, Virata, Salya and Dropa parvans, three fine, pure garments should be given, or a couple of nishkas. At (the time of the conclusion of the recital of) other small parvans, he should bring (and give to the reader) two nishkas.

At (the time of the conclusion of the recital of) HarivaifaSa, he should give the reader three garments with a nishka.

82-84a. He should give (the reader a piece of) land at the time of the conclusion (of the recital) of the entire Bharata. A man should worship the reader at the conclusion of the recital of every kapda, when Ramayapa is listened to. He should cause to give (i.e. should give) enough land or even gold. The words of the speaker, i.e. the preceptor destroy all sins. О best king, (they lead to) material welfare, religious merit, fulfilment of desires and salvation.

84b-88. All wise men become successful due to their listening to the exposition (of a Purapa-text). By (just) one listening (i.e. by listening just once to a Purapa) all sins like the murder of a bnihmapa perish. Have the men not heard about it on the earth? A man should every day honour the expounder (of the Purapa) with (the gifts of) a vehicle, wealth, gold etc. so that the heap of his sins perishes. Even other Purapas recited by sages destroy the sins of the listeners, especially of the speaker. The mind of him who would expound all the thirtysix Puranas, or listens to them, is never divided.

89-93a. The first Purapa is Brahma; the second is said to be Padma; the third one is Vaishpava (i.e. Vishnu Purapa); the fourth one is said to be Saiva; the fifth is said to be Bhagavata. Bhavishya is said to be the sixth; Naradiya is declared to be the seventh; Markap<jeya is said to be the eighth; the ninth is Agneya (i.e. Agni Purapa); Brahmavaivarta is said to be the tenth; then (there are) Laihga (i.e. Linga Purapa), Vamana, Skanda (i.e. Skanda Purapa), Matsva (i.e. Matsya Purapa), Kaurma (i.e. Kiirma Purapa); Varfiha (i.e. Varaha Purapa) is also said (to be one of the Purapas); Garuda (i.e. Garuda Purapa) is also said (to be a Purapa); so also BrahmSpda Purapa. Thus the wise know the Purapas to be eighteen.

93b-97. Similarly I shall tell about the Upapurapas hereafter. The first one is Sanatakumara; after that (comes) Narasimha; the third one is said to be Mapda; then there isDaurvasasa (i.e. Durvasas); then Naradlya; the next is Kapila; then is Manava; then is said to be Aujanasa; then comes Brahmapda; then there is Varupa; there is one called Kalika; so also there are MaheSa and Samba, Saura and Parfiiara, Marica, and the one called Bhargava; so also Kaumara. (These) are said to be eighteen Upa(Puranas). Manu would be (i.e. is) the expounder of the eighteen Puranas.

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