अथ यद्येनमूष्मसूपालभेत प्रजापतिंशरणं प्रपन्नोऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति पेक्ष्यतीत्येनं ब्रूयादथ यद्येनं स्पर्शेषूपालभेत मृत्युं शरणं प्रपन्नोऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति धक्ष्यतीत्येनं ब्रूयात् ॥ २.२२.४ ॥
atha yadyenamūṣmasūpālabheta prajāpatiṃśaraṇaṃ prapanno’bhūvaṃ sa tvā prati pekṣyatītyenaṃ brūyādatha yadyenaṃ sparśeṣūpālabheta mṛtyuṃ śaraṇaṃ prapanno’bhūvaṃ sa tvā prati dhakṣyatītyenaṃ brūyāt || 2.22.4 ||
4. Then, if someone finds fault with his pronunciation of the sibilants, the singer will say to him: ‘When I started singing I sought Prajāpati’s blessings. He will therefore crush you.’ Then, if someone finds fault with his pronunciation of the consonants, the singer will say to him: ‘I sought Death’s protection while singing. He will therefore burn you to ashes’.
Word-for-word explanation:
Atha, then; yadi enam ūṣmasu upālabheta, if a person criticizes him for his pronunciation of the sibilants; prajāpatim śaraṇam prapanṇaḥ abhūvam, I took refuge in Prajāpati [when I started singing]; saḥ, he [Prajāpati]; tvā pratipekṣati iti, will crush you; enam brūyāt, he will say to him; atha, then; yadi enam sparśeṣu upālabheta, if someone criticizes him for his pronunciation of the consonants; mṛtyum śaraṇam prapannaḥ abhūvam, I took refuge in Death [when I started singing]; saḥ, he [Death]; tvā pratidhakṣyati iti, will burn you to ashes; enam brūyāt, he will say to him.
Commentary:
If you are reciting a hymn, seek Prajāpati’s protection concerning the sibilants. Then, even if you err, he will protect you. Similarly, you should seek Death’s protection concerning the consonants. He will protect you from harm for any mistakes you might make. In fact, those who find fault with you will themselves be punished, for by criticizing your singing, they are insulting Prajāpati or Death.