स तस्मादीश्वरो देवः परस्माद् यो ऽधितिष्ठति
Therefore, that Lord is the god who stands beyond the highest.
यदंशस्तत्परो यस्तु स देवः स्यान्महेश्वरः
He whose part is supreme, who is beyond, that god is the great Lord.
एकैकातिक्रमे तेषां प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते
For each individual transgression among them, expiation is prescribed in succession.
प्राणायामसमायुक्तं कुर्यात् सांतपनं शुचिः
One who is pure should perform the Sāṃtapana penance, accompanied by breath control.
पुनराश्रममागम्य चरेद् भिश्रुरतन्द्रितः
Having returned again to the ashram, he should diligently practice as a mendicant, without negligence.
तथापि च न कर्तव्यं प्रसङ्गो ह्येष दारुणः
Even so, such conduct must not be undertaken, for this attachment is truly dreadful.
उक्त्वानृतं प्रकर्तव्यं यतिना धर्मलिप्सुना
A mendicant who desires righteousness must confess falsehood and then perform the prescribed act.
हिंसा चैषापरा दिष्टा या चात्मज्ञाननाशिका
This is declared to be another form of violence, which destroys self-knowledge.
स तस्य हरति प्राणान् यो यस्य हरते धनम्
He who takes another's wealth takes his life.
भूयो निर्वेदमापन्नश्चरेच्चान्द्रायणव्रतम्
Again, having attained remorse, one should observe the Cāndrāyaṇa vow.
भूयो निर्वेदमापन्नश्चरेद् भिक्षुरतन्द्रितः
Again, having attained remorse, one should practice as a diligent mendicant.
कुर्यात्कृछ्रातिकृच्छ्रं तु चान्द्रायणमथापि वा
One should perform the Kṛcchrātikṛcchra or the Cāndrāyaṇa penance, or both.
दिवास्कन्दे त्रिरात्रं स्यात् प्राणायामशतं तथा
During the day, one should fast for three nights and also perform a hundred breath-control exercises.
प्रत्यक्षलवणे चोक्तं प्राजापत्यं विशोधनम्
For direct consumption of salt, the Prājāpatya purification is prescribed.
तस्मान्महेश्वरं ज्ञात्वा तस्य ध्यानपरो भवेत्
Therefore, knowing Maheśvara, one should be devoted to his meditation.
यो ऽन्तरात्र परं ब्रह्म स विज्ञेयो महेश्वरः
He who is the supreme Brahman within the interval of the night—that one is to be known as Maheśvara.
तदेवाक्षरमद्वैतं तदादित्यान्तरं परम्
That alone is the imperishable, non-dual, and the supreme that is within the sun.
आत्मयोगाह्वये तत्त्वे महादेवस्ततः स्मृतः
In the principle called the union of the self, the great god is thus remembered.
तमेवात्मानमन्वेति यः स याति परं पदम्
Whoever seeks out that very self attains the supreme state.
न ते पश्यन्ति तं देवं वृथा तेषां परिश्रमः
Those who do not see that god—vain is their effort.
स देवस्तु महादेवो नैतद् विज्ञाय बध्यते
But that god, the great Lord, is not bound by this, for he knows it not.
ज्ञानयोगरतः शान्तो महादेवपरायणः
Engaged in the yoga of knowledge, peaceful, wholly devoted to the great Lord—
पितामहेन विभुना मुनीनां पूर्वमीरितम्
This was formerly declared by the Lord, the grandsire, to the sages.
ज्ञानं स्वयंभुवा प्रोक्तं यतिधर्माश्रयं शिवम्
The knowledge proclaimed by the self-born, grounded in the dharma of ascetics, is auspicious.
प्रणिहितमनसो ये नित्यमेवाचरन्ति
Those who, with focused mind, always practice it—
हिताय सर्वविप्राणां दोषाणामपनुत्तये
For the welfare of all beings, and for the removal of faults—
दोषमाप्नोति पुरुषः प्रायश्चित्तं विशोधनम्
A person incurs fault, and expiation is the means of purification.
यद् ब्रूयुर्ब्राह्मणाः शान्ता विद्वांसस्तत्समाचरेत्
Whatever peaceful and learned Brahmins declare, that should be practiced.
स एव स्यात् परो धर्मो यमेको ऽपि व्यवस्यति
That alone is the highest dharma which even one person determines.
यद् ब्रूयुर्धर्मकामास्ते तज्ज्ञेयं धर्मसाधनम्
What those who desire dharma declare should be known as the means to dharma.