O best of the twice-born, it is taught that all divine actions—every sacred rite and ritual—should be performed using purified water. This ensures the proper accomplishment of all ceremonies. If water is mixed with subtle creatures or impurities, it must be cleansed by removing them; otherwise, the use of impure water brings sin upon the performer for a long time. In everyday tasks—such as sweeping, cleaning people, tending fire, pounding, and collecting water—there is always the risk of causing harm, especially for householders. Therefore, one should strive to avoid harming any beings. Non-harming, or ahimsa, is upheld as the highest duty for all living beings. With every effort, water purified by filtering through cloth should be used. The gift of such purified water is considered the greatest and most excellent of all gifts—it bestows both fearlessness and merit upon the recipient. Harm must always be avoided everywhere—by thought, by deed, and by speech. A person should always embody non-harming. All creatures protect one who is non-harming, and trouble the one who causes harm. The fruit gained by giving 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 in thought, word, and action. Those who show the path of compassion reach the world of Rudra and, like a master, protect many and various beings. Even out of affection for sons and grandsons, those who reach the world of Rudra are urged to use purified water with every effort. Sprinkling and bathing must always be performed; the fruit declared for such acts is as great as that for destroying the whole three worlds. However, by killing even one being in a temple of Shiva, one obtains the full result; and for the sake of Shiva, harm to flowers is permitted, O best of the twice-born. Animal sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice, and punishing the wicked by kshatriyas, are prescribed. But for yogis and knowers of Brahman, there is nothing prescribed or prohibited—they are detached, having renounced all actions. Therefore, killing must not be done, by avoiding what is forbidden. 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; indeed, 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 sinful, among all castes. Whether ugly or beautiful, clothed or unclean, 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 and known as heretics, must not be spoken to by twice-born men. They must not be touched or seen; seeing them is likened to looking at the sun. Even so, they are to be killed by kings and others. Yet, O twice-born, even if a mortal comes into contact with the virtuous only once, and worships the great Lord, he attains the world of Rudra. Those who lack devotion become miserable and merciless in the cycle of existence, which is the ultimate cause. But those devoted to Shiva, God of gods, the Supreme Lord, are fortunate; after enjoying pleasures in this world, they are liberated. For people—whether in sons, wives, or homes—devotion, even once, through association, to the Supreme Deity, makes the world of the Supreme Lord not far from them, even for great ascetics. A wise sage then asks: “How can mortals, weak and dull, with lifespans of a kalpa but little strength and substance, worship the great god, the Lord of creatures? Even the gods, though they worship Shankara with austerity for thousands of years, do not see him; so how do mortals worship the god?” It is answered: “What you have said is true, yet with faith, the Lord is seen, worshipped, and spoken to. Even those without devotion, if they worship him by chance, the Lord grants results according to their disposition. If a degraded twice-born, being impure, worships, he goes to the realm of spirits; if his mind is deluded and angry, he attains the place of demons. A wicked person who worships after eating forbidden food attains the state of a yaksha; one fond of singing attains the Gandharva realm, and one fond of dancing likewise. One who delights in fame attains the lunar realm; the lowest of men, attached to women and intoxicated, worshipping Rudra, attains the place of Soma. Worshipping the god with the Gayatri, one attains the world of the progenitors; with the Pranava, the Brahman realm; and by honoring him as Vishnu, the Vaishnava realm. Even if a god worships the great Lord just once with faith, he attains the world of Rudra and rejoices there together with the Rudras. To worship Shiva properly, one must first purify the auspicious linga, revered by gods and demons, with pure water, and invoke the god upon a seat with devotion. After seeing the god properly and bowing to Shankara, one should seat him on the prepared seat, which is pure and endowed with knowledge of righteousness. In the midst of the lotus of Om, born of Soma, Surya, and Agni, endowed with detachment and sovereignty, and worshipped by all worlds, one should offer water for washing the feet, for sipping, and for welcoming to Rudra, to Shambhu, and bathe him with divine waters, as well as with ghee and milk. One should also bathe Rudra with curds and purify him according to the proper method; then, after bathing with pure water, worship with sandal and other offerings. One should worship with rocanā and other substances, and offer divine flowers, as well as whole bilva leaves and various kinds of lotuses—with blue lotuses, water-lilies, nadyāvarta, jasmine, campaka, jati flowers, bakula, and karavira as well. Thus, with reverence and purity, devotion to Shiva is performed, bringing the highest blessings to those who worship with faith and compassion.