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.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः सप्तैते परिकीर्तिताः
Seven are enumerated as accomplished in Vedic study.
एकविंशतिसंख्याताः प्रयाश्चित्तं वदन्ति वै
Twenty-one are said to prescribe expiation.
महापातकिनस्त्वेते यश्चैतैः सह संवसेत्
These are great sinners, and whoever lives with them—
यानशय्यासनैर्नित्यं जानन् वै पतितो भवेत्
Knowing this, one who always shares their vehicle, bed, or seat becomes fallen.
कृत्वा सद्यः पतेज्ज्ञानात् सह भोजनमेव च
If one knowingly eats with them, one falls immediately.
संवत्सरेण पतति सहाध्ययनमेव च
By studying together with them, one falls within a year.
भैक्षमात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं कृत्वा शवशिरोध्वजम्
For the sake of self-purification, one should beg alms, bearing a skull as a banner.
विनिन्दन् स्वयमात्मानं ब्राह्मणं तं च संस्मरन्
Condemning himself and remembering that Brahmin, he should do so.
विधूमे शनकैर्नित्यं व्यङ्गारे भुक्तवज्जने
One should always eat food without smoke, gradually, as if eating what has been cooked on embers.
वन्यमूलफलैर्वापि वर्तयेद् धैर्यमाक्षितः
Or, with steadfastness, one may subsist on roots and fruits from the forest.