O noble ones, listen as the sacred rites are described. All the letters, beginning with the revered praṇava and ending with ‘namaḥ’, must be worshipped in their proper order. This worship is to be performed with fragrant substances, flowers, and other offerings, honoring each syllable as it deserves. In that place of worship, fifty Brāhmaṇas should be fed according to the prescribed rules, and gifted with a rosary, sacred thread, earrings, and a water pot. Seats, staffs, turbans, and cloth should also be given to these great sages, all in honor of Śaṃbhu, the god of gods. After these offerings, the devotee should perform the great oblation and present a black pair of cows. At the conclusion, the powdered maṇḍala, drawn with devotion, is to be presented to the god of gods. All materials used in the sacrifice should be offered to Shiva, and the wise should recite Om and other sacred syllables, moving sequentially through each letter. Whoever, with devotion, draws the supreme mandala attains a most wondrous fruit. First, having properly studied the Vedas with all their limbs according to the prescribed rules, and having performed sacrifices such as Jyotishtoma in order, the devotee should produce sons through rites like Vishvajit. Then, entering the forest-dweller stage with wife and sacred fire, and having performed all rites such as Chandrayana, relinquishing actions, the twice-born should diligently study Brahmavidya and attain true knowledge. When the knowable has been perceived through knowledge, the yogi attains whatever he desires. All these fruits are gained by seeing the mandala of syllables. Wherever one smears in front of the shrine—be it to the north, south, or behind—if a quadrangular area is decorated with powders all around and worshipped with flowers, rice, and other offerings, the devotee is freed from all sins. Whoever, with devotion, smears the sanctum once on all sides with sandalwood, camphor, and fragrant substances, scattering fragrant flowers and offering four kinds of incense, and prays to Lord Ishana, attains the world of Shiva. There, enjoying great pleasures for hundreds of millions of aeons, a person fills Shiva’s temple with the fragrance and flowers of their own body. Eventually, attaining the Gandharva realm and being worshipped by Gandharvas, such a one returns to this world and becomes a mighty king. Know that Mahadeva, the primordial god, is the cause of dissolution, maintenance, and creation; he is the lord of worlds, all-pervading Sharva, eternal Sadashiva. The nectar of Shiva-Brahman is to be accepted as the supreme means to liberation. The Lord, both manifest and unmanifest, eternal and inconceivable, should always be worshipped. In the field of Shiva, smearing should be done with water purified by cloth, O best of sages; otherwise, success is not desired. Water becomes pure when filtered through cloth and collected; frothy water should especially not be used. Thus, all divine actions must be performed with purified water for the accomplishment of all rites. Waters mixed with subtle creatures must be purified by destroying them, for impure water brings sin for a long time. In sweeping, cleaning people, fire, pounding, and collecting water, there is always harm for householders; therefore, one should avoid causing harm. Non-harming is the highest duty for all living beings. With every effort, water purified with cloth should be used. The gift of such water is the highest and most excellent of all gifts, granting fearlessness and merit. Harm must always be avoided everywhere—by thought, deed, and speech. A person should always be non-harming. All creatures protect the non-harming person and trouble the one who harms. The fruit gained by one who gives to a knower of the Veda is received throughout the three worlds, but the non-harming person attains that fruit multiplied a crore-fold, being devoted to the welfare of all beings. Those who show the path of compassion reach the world of Rudra, and, like a master, protect many and various beings. Those who, out of affection for sons and grandsons, reach the world of Rudra—therefore, water purified with cloth should always be used with every effort. One must always perform sprinkling and especially bathing; the fruit declared for destroying the whole three worlds is obtained. By killing even one in a temple of Shiva, one obtains the full result; for Shiva’s sake, harm to flowers should always be done, O best of twice-born. Animal sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice, and punishing the wicked by kshatriyas, are prescribed; but for yogis and knowers of Brahman, nothing is prescribed or prohibited. Therefore, killing must not be done, by avoiding what is forbidden. Having renounced all actions, the knowers of Brahman are detached. Women must never be killed, but always honored, even if engaged in sinful acts; all women are pure, especially those born in the lineage of Atri. Killing a woman of the Atreya lineage is a sin equal to killing a Brahmin; all women must not be killed, even if engaged in sinful acts. Women must never be taken for sacrifice by anyone, at any time, in any place, even if they are engaged in sinful acts, among all castes. Whether ugly or beautiful, or wearing dirty clothes, women must never be killed by mortals, out of reverence for Shiva. Those who follow vows outside the Veda, excluded from Vedic and Smriti rites, known as heretics, must not be spoken to by twice-born men. They must not be touched or seen; seeing them is like looking at the sun. Even so, they are to be killed by kings and other beings. Thus are the sacred rites and duties laid out, for the welfare of all beings and the attainment of supreme liberation.