The Glory of Worthy Brahmin Recipients of Gifts

Verse 1 (skanda.7.208.1)

देव्युवाच। इदं देयमिदं देयमिति प्रोक्तं तु यच्छ्रुतौ। दानादानविशेषांस्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः

devyuvāca| idaṁ deyamidaṁ deyamiti proktaṁ tu yacchrutau| dānādānaviśeṣāṁstu śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ

The Goddess said: It has been said in the Shruti — 'this is to be given, this is to be given.' I wish to hear in truth the specific distinctions of what should and should not be given.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.208.2)

कानि दानानि शस्तानि कस्मै देयानि कान्यपि। कालं देशं च पात्रं च सर्वमाचक्ष्व मे विभो

kāni dānāni śastāni kasmai deyāni kānyapi| kālaṁ deśaṁ ca pātraṁ ca sarvamācakṣva me vibho

Which gifts are praised, and to whom should they be given? O mighty one, tell me everything about the proper time, place, and recipient.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.208.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। वृथा जन्मानि चत्वारि वृथा दानानि षोडश। सुजन्मानि च चत्वारि महादानानि षोडश

īśvara uvāca| vṛthā janmāni catvāri vṛthā dānāni ṣoḍaśa| sujanmāni ca catvāri mahādānāni ṣoḍaśa

Ishvara said: There are four kinds of futile birth and sixteen kinds of futile gifts; and there are four kinds of true birth and sixteen great gifts.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.208.4)

देव्युवाच। एतद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि देवदेवजगत्पते

devyuvāca| etadvistarato brūhi devadevajagatpate

The Goddess said: O God of gods, Lord of the universe, please explain this to me in detail.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.208.5)

ईश्वर उवाच। वृथा जन्मानि चत्वारि यानि तानि निबोध मे। कुपुत्राणां वृथा जन्म ये च धर्मबहिष्कृताः। प्रवासं ये च गच्छंति परदाररताः सदा

īśvara uvāca| vṛthā janmāni catvāri yāni tāni nibodha me| kuputrāṇāṁ vṛthā janma ye ca dharmabahiṣkṛtāḥ| pravāsaṁ ye ca gacchaṁti paradāraratāḥ sadā

Ishvara said: Hear from me those four futile births. The birth of unworthy sons is futile; that of those cast out from dharma is futile; that of those who forever remain abroad is futile; and that of those ever attached to another's wife is futile.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.208.6)

परपाकं च येऽश्नंति परदाररताश्च ये। अप्रत्याख्यं वृथा दानं सदोषं च तथा प्रिये

parapākaṁ ca ye'śnaṁti paradāraratāśca ye| apratyākhyaṁ vṛthā dānaṁ sadoṣaṁ ca tathā priye

O beloved, a gift given to those who eat food cooked by others out of dependence, and to those attached to another's wife; and a gift given without proper refusal ritual, or one that is flawed — these too are futile.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.208.7)

आरूढपतिते चैव अन्यायोपार्जितं धनम्। वृथा ब्रह्महने दानं पतिते तस्करे तथा

ārūḍhapatite caiva anyāyopārjitaṁ dhanam| vṛthā brahmahane dānaṁ patite taskare tathā

A gift given to one fallen from high estate, wealth unjustly acquired, and gifts given to a brahmin-slayer, to the fallen, and to a thief — these are futile.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.208.8)

गुरोश्चाप्रीतिजनने कृतघ्ने ग्रामयाजके। ब्रह्मबन्धौ च यद्दत्तं यद्दत्तं वृषलीपतौ

guroścāprītijanane kṛtaghne grāmayājake| brahmabandhau ca yaddattaṁ yaddattaṁ vṛṣalīpatau

A gift given to one who displeases his teacher, to an ingrate, to a priest who serves an entire village indiscriminately, to a mere kinsman-in-name of a brahmin, and to a vrishalipati — these too are futile.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.208.9)

वेदविक्रयिणे चैव यस्य चोपपतिर्गृहे। स्त्रीनिर्जिते च यद्दत्तं वृथादानानि षोडश

vedavikrayiṇe caiva yasya copapatirgṛhe| strīnirjite ca yaddattaṁ vṛthādānāni ṣoḍaśa

A gift given to a seller of the Veda, to one in whose house dwells his wife's paramour, and to a man ruled by his wife — thus these are the sixteen futile gifts.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.208.10)

सुजन्म च सुपुत्राणां ये च धर्मे रता नराः। प्रवासं न च गच्छंति परदारपराङ्मुखाः

sujanma ca suputrāṇāṁ ye ca dharme ratā narāḥ| pravāsaṁ na ca gacchaṁti paradāraparāṅmukhāḥ

The birth of good sons, of men devoted to dharma, of those who do not go abroad, and of those turned away from another's wife — these are the true births.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.208.11)

गावः सुवर्णं रजतं रत्नानि च सरस्वती। तिलाः कन्या गजोश्वश्च शय्या वस्त्रं तथा मही

gāvaḥ suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ ratnāni ca sarasvatī| tilāḥ kanyā gajośvaśca śayyā vastraṁ tathā mahī

Cows, gold, silver, jewels, learning (Sarasvati), sesame, a maiden, an elephant, a horse, a bed, a garment, and land —

Verse 12 (skanda.7.208.12)

धान्यं पयश्च च्छत्रं च गृहं चोपस्करान्वितम्। एतान्येव महादेवि महादानानि षोडश

dhānyaṁ payaśca cchatraṁ ca gṛhaṁ copaskarānvitam| etānyeva mahādevi mahādānāni ṣoḍaśa

Grain, milk, an umbrella, and a house furnished with household goods — these, O great Goddess, are the sixteen great gifts.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.208.13)

गर्वावृतस्तु यो दद्याद्भयात्क्रोधात्तथैव च। भुंक्ते दानफलं तद्धि गर्भस्थो नात्र संशय

garvāvṛtastu yo dadyādbhayātkrodhāttathaiva ca| bhuṁkte dānaphalaṁ taddhi garbhastho nātra saṁśaya

Whoever gives out of pride, or out of fear, or out of anger, indeed enjoys the fruit of that gift while still in the womb — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.208.14)

बालत्वेऽपि च सोऽश्नाति यद्दत्तं दंभकारणात्। मन्युना मंतुना चैव तथैवार्थस्य कारणात्

bālatve'pi ca so'śnāti yaddattaṁ daṁbhakāraṇāt| manyunā maṁtunā caiva tathaivārthasya kāraṇāt

That gift given out of hypocrisy, out of wrath, out of arrogance, or for the sake of gain — its fruit he enjoys even in childhood.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.208.15)

देशे काले च पात्रे च शुद्धेन मनसा तथा। न्यायार्जितं च यो दद्याद्यौवने स तदश्नुते

deśe kāle ca pātre ca śuddhena manasā tathā| nyāyārjitaṁ ca yo dadyādyauvane sa tadaśnute

Whoever gives, with a pure mind, wealth justly acquired, at the proper place, time, and to a worthy recipient, enjoys its fruit in the prime of youth.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.208.16)

अन्यायेनार्जितं द्रव्यमपात्रे प्रतिपादितम्। क्लिष्टं च विधिहीनं च वृद्धभावे तदश्नुते

anyāyenārjitaṁ dravyamapātre pratipāditam| kliṣṭaṁ ca vidhihīnaṁ ca vṛddhabhāve tadaśnute

Wealth unjustly acquired, given to an unworthy recipient, given grudgingly and without proper procedure — its fruit he enjoys only in old age.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.208.17)

तस्माद्देशे च काले च सुपात्रे विधिना नरः। शुभार्जितं प्रयुञ्जीत श्रद्धया शाठ्यवर्जितः

tasmāddeśe ca kāle ca supātre vidhinā naraḥ| śubhārjitaṁ prayuñjīta śraddhayā śāṭhyavarjitaḥ

Therefore a man should give, at the proper place and time, to a worthy recipient, duly, wealth righteously earned, with faith and free from deceit.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.208.18)

स्वाध्यायाढ्यं योगवंतं प्रशांतं पुराणज्ञं पापभीरुं वदान्यम्। स्त्रीषु क्षान्तं धार्मिकं गोशरण्यं व्रतैः क्रान्तं तादृशं पात्रमाहुः

svādhyāyāḍhyaṁ yogavaṁtaṁ praśāṁtaṁ purāṇajñaṁ pāpabhīruṁ vadānyam| strīṣu kṣāntaṁ dhārmikaṁ gośaraṇyaṁ vratairkrāntaṁ tādṛśaṁ pātramāhuḥ

One rich in Vedic study, accomplished in yoga, tranquil, learned in the Puranas, fearful of sin, generous, restrained toward women, righteous, a refuge for cows, and devoted to vows — such a one is declared a worthy recipient.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.208.19)

सत्यं दमस्तपः शौचं सन्तोषोऽनैर्ष्यमार्जवम्। ज्ञानं शमो दया दानमेतत्पात्रस्य लक्षणम्

satyaṁ damastapaḥ śaucaṁ saṁtoṣo'nairṣyamārjavam| jñānaṁ śamo dayā dānametatpātrasya lakṣaṇam

Truthfulness, self-restraint, austerity, purity, contentment, freedom from envy, honesty, knowledge, calmness, compassion, and generosity — these are the marks of a worthy recipient.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.208.20)

एवंविधे तु यत्पात्रे गामेकां तु प्रयच्छति। समानवत्सां कपिलां धेनुं सर्वगुणान्विताम्

evaṁvidhe tu yatpātre gāmekāṁ tu prayacchati| samānavatsāṁ kapilāṁ dhenuṁ sarvaguṇānvitām

Whoever, to such a recipient, gives a single tawny cow along with her own calf, endowed with every good quality,

Verse 21 (skanda.7.208.21)

रौप्यपादां स्वर्णशृङ्गीं रुद्रलोके महीयते। एकां गां दशगुर्दद्याद्गोशती च तथा दश

raupyapādāṁ svarṇaśṛṅgīṁ rudraloke mahīyate| ekāṁ gāṁ daśagurdadyādgośatī ca tathā daśa

with silver hooves and golden horns — is glorified in the world of Rudra. One such cow given equals the gift of ten ordinary cows, and ten of them equal a hundred.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.208.22)

शतं सहस्रगुर्दद्यात्सर्वे समफलाः स्मृताः। सुशीला सोमसंपन्ना तरुणी च पयस्विनी। सवत्सा न्यायलब्धा च प्रदेया ब्राह्मणाय गौः

śataṁ sahasragurdadyātsarve samaphalāḥ smṛtāḥ| suśīlā somasaṁpannā taruṇī ca payasvinī| savatsā nyāyalabdhā ca pradeyā brāhmaṇāya gauḥ

A hundred equal a thousand — all these are declared equal in merit. The cow given to a brahmin should be well-behaved, gentle, young, a good milker, with her calf, and justly acquired.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.208.23)

वंध्या सरोगा हीनांगी दुष्टा वृद्धा मृतप्रजा। अन्यायलब्धा दूरस्था नेदृशी गां प्रदापयेत्

vaṁdhyā sarogā hīnāṁgī duṣṭā vṛddhā mṛtaprajā| anyāyalabdhā dūrasthā nedṛśī gāṁ pradāpayet

A cow that is barren, diseased, deformed, vicious, old, one whose calf has died, one unjustly acquired, or one that is far away — such a cow should never be given.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.208.24)

यो हीदृशीं गां ददाति देवोद्देशेन मानवः। प्रत्युताधोगतिं याति क्लिश्यते च महेश्वरि

yo hīdṛśīṁ gāṁ dadāti devoddeśena mānavaḥ| pratyutādhogatiṁ yāti kliśyate ca maheśvari

Whoever gives such a cow with the intention of honoring a deity, O great Goddess, goes instead to a lower state and suffers affliction.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.208.25)

रुष्टा क्लिष्टा दुर्बला व्याधिता च न दातव्या या च मूल्यैरदत्तैः। लेशो विप्रेभ्यो यया जायते वै तस्या दातुश्चाफलाः सर्वलोकाः

ruṣṭā kliṣṭā durbalā vyādhitā ca na dātavyā yā ca mūlyairadattaiḥ| leśo viprebhyo yayā jāyate vai tasyā dātuścāphalāḥ sarvalokāḥ

A cow that is bad-tempered, distressed, weak, or diseased, or one for which the price has not been paid, should never be given; if even the slightest hardship comes to the brahmins from such a cow, all the worlds become fruitless for its giver.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.208.26)

अतिथये प्रशान्ताय सीदते चाहिताग्नये। श्रोत्रियाय तथैकापि दत्ता बहुगुणा भवेत्

atithaye praśāntāya sīdate cāhitāgnaye| śrotriyāya tathaikāpi dattā bahuguṇā bhavet

Even a single cow given to a guest who is peaceful, distressed, who maintains the sacred fire, and who is a shrotriya, becomes manifold in its merit.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.208.27)

गां विक्रीणाति चेद्देवि ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानदुर्बलः। नासौ प्रशस्यते पात्रं ब्राह्मणो नैव स स्मृतः

gāṁ vikrīṇāti cedvevi brāhmaṇo jñānadurbalaḥ| nāsau praśasyate pātraṁ brāhmaṇo naiva sa smṛtaḥ

O Goddess, if a brahmin weak in knowledge sells a cow, he is not praised as a worthy recipient, nor is he even reckoned a brahmin.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.208.28)

बहुभ्यो न प्रदेयानि गौर्गृहं शयनं स्त्रियः। विभक्ता दक्षिणा ह्येषा दातारं नोपतिष्ठति

bahubhyo na pradeyāni gaurgṛhaṁ śayanaṁ striyaḥ| vibhaktā dakṣiṇā hyeṣā dātāraṁ nopatiṣṭhati

A cow, a house, a bed, and consorts should not be given divided among many; for such divided dakshina does not benefit the giver.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.208.29)

प्रासादा यत्र सौवर्णाः शय्या रत्नोज्ज्वलास्तथा। वराश्चाप्सरसो यत्र तत्र गच्छंति गोप्रदाः

prāsādā yatra sauvarṇāḥ śayyā ratnojjvalāstathā| varāścāpsaraso yatra tatra gacchaṁti gopradāḥ

Where there are palaces of gold, beds gleaming with jewels, and the finest celestial nymphs — there go those who have given cows in charity.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.208.30)

नास्ति भूमिसमं दानं नास्ति गंगासमा सरित्। नास्ति सत्यात्परो धर्मो नान्यो देवो महेश्वरात्

nāsti bhūmisamaṁ dānaṁ nāsti gaṁgāsamā sarit| nāsti satyātparo dharmo nānyo devo maheśvarāt

There is no gift equal to the gift of land; there is no river equal to the Ganga; there is no dharma higher than truth; and there is no god other than Maheshvara.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.208.31)

उच्चैः पाषाणयुक्ता च न समा नैव चोषरा। न नदीकूलविकटा भूमिर्देया कदाचन

uccaiḥ pāṣāṇayuktā ca na samā naiva coṣarā| na nadīkūlavikaṭā bhūmirdeyā kadācana

Land that is excessively hilly, strewn with stones, uneven, barren, or precarious on a riverbank — such land should never be given in charity.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.208.32)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे वसति भूमिदः। आच्छेत्ता चानुमंता च तान्येव नरकं व्रजेत्

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi svarge vasati bhūmidaḥ| ācchettā cānumaṁtā ca tānyeva narakaṁ vrajet

The giver of land dwells in heaven for sixty thousand years; whoever seizes land, and whoever consents to it, goes to hell for that same span.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.208.33)

कुरुते पुरुषः पापं यत्किञ्चिद्वृत्तिकर्शितः। अपि गोचर्ममात्रेण भूमिदानेन शुद्ध्यति

kurute puruṣaḥ pāpaṁ yatkiñcidvṛttikarśitaḥ| api gocarmamātreṇa bhūmidānena śuddhyati

Whatever sin a man commits, driven by the pinch of poverty, he is purified even by giving land no larger than a cow's hide.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.208.34)

छत्रं शय्यासनं शंखो गजाश्वाश्चामराः स्त्रियः। भूमिश्चैषां प्रदानस्य शिवलोकः फलं स्मृतम्

chatraṁ śayyāsanaṁ śaṁkho gajāśvāścāmarāḥ striyaḥ| bhūmiścaiṣāṁ pradānasya śivalokaḥ phalaṁ smṛtam

An umbrella, a bed, a seat, a conch, elephants, horses, whisks, consorts, and land — the fruit of giving all these is declared to be the world of Shiva.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.208.35)

आदित्येऽहनि संक्रांतौ ग्रहणे चन्द्र सूर्ययोः। पारणैश्चैव गोदाने नोपोष्यः पौत्रवान्गृही

āditye'hani saṁkrāṁtau grahaṇe candrasūryayoḥ| pāraṇaiścaiva godāne nopoṣyaḥ pautravāngṛhī

On a Sunday, at a solstice, and during a lunar or solar eclipse — apart from breaking the fast and giving cows, a householder blessed with grandsons should not fast.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.208.36)

इन्दुक्षये तु संक्रान्त्यामेकादश्यां शते कृते। उपवासं न कुर्वीत यदीच्छेत्संततिं ध्रुवम्

indukṣaye tu saṁkrāntyāmekādaśyāṁ śate kṛte| upavāsaṁ na kurvīta yadīcchetsaṁtatiṁ dhruvam

On the day of the moon's waning, at the solstice, on Ekadashi, and on the shatabhisha day — if one desires progeny with certainty, one should not fast.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.208.37)

यथा शुक्ला तथा कृष्णा न विशेषोऽस्ति कश्चन। तथापि वर्धते धर्मः शुक्लायामेव सर्वदा

yathā śuklā tathā kṛṣṇā na viśeṣo'sti kaścana| tathāpi vardhate dharmaḥ śuklāyāmeva sarvadā

The bright-fortnight Ekadashi and the dark-fortnight one are alike; there is no real distinction between them. Yet merit always increases more in the bright fortnight.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.208.38)

दशम्येकादशीविद्धा द्वादशी च क्षयं गता। नक्तं तत्र प्रकुर्वीत नोपवासो विधीयते

daśamyekādaśīviddhā dvādaśī ca kṣayaṁ gatā| naktaṁ tatra prakurvīta nopavāso vidhīyate

An Ekadashi mixed with the Dashami, and a Dvadashi that has been lost (through tithi contraction) — on such a day, one should eat only at night; fasting is not prescribed.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.208.39)

उपोष्यैकादशीं यस्तु त्रयोदश्यां तु पारणम्। करोति तस्य नश्येत्तु द्वादशद्वादशीफलम्

upoṣyaikādaśīṁ yastu trayodaśyāṁ tu pāraṇam| karoti tasya naśyettu dvādaśadvādaśīphalam

Whoever fasts on Ekadashi but breaks the fast only on Trayodashi loses the merit of twelve Ekadashi observances.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.208.40)

उपवासे तथा श्राद्धे न खादेद्दन्तधावनम्। दन्तानां काष्ठसंगाच्च हन्ति सप्तकुलानि वै

upavāse tathā śrāddhe na khādeddantadhāvanam| dantānāṁ kāṣṭhasaṁgācca hanti saptakulāni vai

On a day of fasting or shraddha, one should not clean the teeth with a twig; contact of wood with the teeth on such a day destroys seven generations.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.208.41)

दर्शं च पौर्णमासं च पितुः सांवत्सरं दिनम्। पूर्वविद्धमकुर्वाणो नरकं प्रतिपद्यते

darśaṁ ca paurṇamāsaṁ ca pituḥ sāṁvatsaraṁ dinam| pūrvaviddhamakurvāṇo narakaṁ pratipadyate

The new moon, the full moon, and the annual day of one's father's shraddha — one who fails to observe these on the tithi touched by the previous day incurs hell.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.208.42)

हानिश्च संततेः प्रोक्ता दौर्भाग्यं समवाप्नुयात्। द्रव्याभावेथ श्राद्धस्य विधिं वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वतः

hāniśca saṁtateḥ proktā daurbhāgyaṁ samavāpnuyāt| dravyābhāvetha śrāddhasya vidhiṁ vakṣyāmi tattvataḥ

This is declared to bring loss of progeny and misfortune. Now I shall tell in truth the procedure for shraddha when materials are lacking.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.208.43)

एकेनापि हि विप्रेण षट्पिण्डं श्राद्धमाचरेत्। षडर्घ्यान्पारयेत्तत्र तेभ्यो दद्याद्यथाविधि

ekenāpi hi vipreṇa ṣaṭpiṇḍaṁ śrāddhamācaret| ṣaḍarghyānpārayettatra tebhyo dadyādyathāvidhi

Even with a single brahmin, the shraddha with six rice-balls may be performed; there one should offer six arghyas and present them duly.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.208.44)

पिता भुंक्ते द्विज करे मुखे भुंक्ते पितामहः। प्रपितामहस्तालुस्थः कण्ठे मातामहः स्मृतः

pitā bhuṁkte dvija kare mukhe bhuṁkte pitāmahaḥ| prapitāmahastāluṣthaḥ kaṇṭhe mātāmahaḥ smṛtaḥ

O twice-born, the father partakes through the brahmin's hand; the grandfather partakes through his mouth; the great-grandfather is present in his palate; and the maternal grandfather is held to be present in his throat.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.208.45)

प्रमातामहस्तु हृदये वृद्धो नाभौ तु संस्थितः। अलाभे ब्राह्मणस्यैव कुशः कार्यो द्विजः प्रिये। इदं सर्वपुराणेभ्यः सारमुद्धत्य चोच्यते

pramātāmahastu hṛdaye vṛddho nābhau tu saṁsthitaḥ| alābhe brāhmaṇasyaiva kuśaḥ kāryo dvijaḥ priye| idaṁ sarvapurāṇebhyaḥ sāramuddhatya cocyate

The maternal great-grandfather is held to reside in the heart, and the eldest ancestor in the navel. O beloved, in the absence of a brahmin, kusha grass itself should be treated as the twice-born for the rite. This has been declared as the essence drawn from all the Puranas.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.208.46)

न चैतन्नास्तिके देयं पिशुने वेदनिन्दके। प्रातःप्रातरिदं श्राव्यं पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम्

na caitannāstike deyaṁ piśune vedanindake| prātaḥprātaridaṁ śrāvyaṁ pūjayitvā maheśvaram

This teaching should not be given to an atheist, a slanderer, or a reviler of the Vedas. It should be heard every morning after worshipping Maheshvara.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.208.47)

कुलीनं सर्वशास्त्रज्ञं यथा देवं महेश्वरम्। अस्य धर्मस्य वक्तारं छत्रं दद्यात्प्रपूजयेत्

kulīnaṁ sarvaśāstrajñaṁ yathā devaṁ maheśvaram| asya dharmasya vaktāraṁ chatraṁ dadyātprapūjayet

The narrator of this teaching, well-born, versed in all the scriptures, and to be regarded like the god Maheshvara himself, should be honored with the gift of an umbrella and duly worshipped.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.208.48)

अपूज्याद्वाचकाद्यस्तु श्लोकमेकं शृणोति च। नासौ पुण्यमवाप्नोति शास्त्रचौरः स्मृतो हि सः

apūjyādvācakādyastu ślokamekaṁ śṛṇoti ca| nāsau puṇyamavāpnoti śāstracauraḥ smṛto hi saḥ

Whoever hears even a single verse from a reciter he has not duly honored gains no merit; he is reckoned a thief of the scripture.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.208.49)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूजयेद्वाचकं बुधः। अन्यथा निष्फलं तस्य पुस्तकश्रवणं भवेत्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena pūjayedvācakaṁ budhaḥ| anyathā niṣphalaṁ tasya pustakaśravaṇaṁ bhavet

Therefore the wise should honor the reciter with every effort; otherwise, his listening to the sacred text becomes fruitless.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.208.50)

यस्यैव तिष्ठते गेहे शास्त्रमेतत्सदुर्लभम्। तस्य देवि गृहे तीर्थैः सह तिष्ठेच्छिवः स्वयम्

yasyaiva tiṣṭhate gehe śāstrametatsadurlabham| tasya devi gṛhe tīrthaiḥ saha tiṣṭhecchivaḥ svayam

O Goddess, in whose house alone this most rare scripture abides, in that house Shiva himself dwells together with all the sacred tirthas.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.208.51)

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन भवेन्मोक्षस्य भाजनम्। न चैतत्पिशुने देयं नास्तिके दंभसंयुते

bahunātra kimuktena bhavenmokṣasya bhājanam| na caitatpiśune deyaṁ nāstike daṁbhasaṁyute

What need is there to say more — he becomes a partaker of liberation. This should never be given to a slanderer, an atheist, or one full of hypocrisy.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.208.52)

इदं शान्ताय दान्ताय देयं शैवद्विजन्मने

idaṁ śāṁtāya dāṁtāya deyaṁ śaivadvijanmane

This should be given only to a twice-born who is peaceful, self-controlled, and a devotee of Shiva.