Listen, then, to the wondrous fruits bestowed upon one who undertakes this supreme vow dedicated to Lord Śiva. The devotee, having observed the vow with devotion, is carried at life’s end to the divine city of Śiva itself. There, in celestial chariots radiant as ten million suns and adorned with dazzling jewels, he journeys to that sacred realm, never to return to the mortal world again. Even if this exalted vow is observed for but a single month, there is no doubt: the devotee attains the world of Śiva. Should his heart be drawn to other blessings, and he observes the vow for a year, he will first receive whatever boons he desires—be it divinity, ancestorhood, sovereignty among the gods, or the revered status of Gaṇapati—and then, ultimately, reach Śiva’s abode. Whatever longing fills the heart—knowledge, pleasure, wealth, or long life—the vow fulfills it. All desires contemplated are enjoyed in this very life, and by the merit of a single month’s observance, the devotee attains the state of Rudra at the end. This vow is pure, supreme, and secret, established by the Creator himself, for the welfare of all: gods, asuras, siddhas, mortals, and vidyādharas. It was ordained by the supreme Śiva for the upliftment of all beings. When the devotee worships the Lord in this way, following the prescribed rites, he bows with humility—his head touching the ground—alongside his servants and sons. He then recites the sacred hymn known as ‘Vyapohana’ and circumambulates Śiva with devotion and effort. This hymn, composed by the Creator for the welfare of the three worlds, was offered in worship by the great and venerable Grandfather of all, together with the gods. Now, I shall declare to you the ‘Vyapohana’ hymn, which bestows all attainments and brings auspiciousness. This hymn was heard by the noble Kumāra from the lips of Nandin himself. With great reverence, I have passed this on to Vyāsa: “Salutations to Śiva, the pure, the spotless, the illustrious one—destroyer of the wicked, all-pervading, supreme soul, who bears five faces, ten arms, and fifteen eyes. He is pure, crystal-bright, adorned with every ornament, all-knowing, all-pervading, peaceful, and established above all. May the Lord of Soma, seated upon a lotus throne, swiftly remove my sins—He who is Īśāna, the Supreme Person, Aghora, and Sadyas. May the blessed Vāmadeva, endless and all-knowing, sovereign and giver of all, swiftly remove my sins. He who is accomplished in single-minded meditation upon Śiva—subtle Lord of gods and demons, worshipped by the Gaṇas—may he remove my sins. The highest Śiva, greatly revered and devoted to meditation, may he remove my sins. The all-pervading, the giver of all, the peaceful one—may he remove my sins. The one-eyed, blessed Lord, devoted to Śiva’s worship, may he remove my sins. The blessed Lord, the Trimūrti, awakener of devotion, may he remove my sins. Śrīkaṇṭha, Lord of fortune, glorious and always intent on meditation, may he remove my sins. And may she who is ever devoted to Śiva’s worship, the glorious Goddess, honored by the three worlds, ancient, with the form of the sun’s orb—may she remove my sins. Dākṣāyaṇī, the great Goddess, Gaurī, auspicious daughter of Himavat, elder sister of Ekaparṇā, gentle Ekapāṭalā, and Aparṇā—the boon-giving Goddess, ever intent on granting boons—Umā, remover of obstacles, Kauśikī, and Kapardinī. The divine bearer of the khaṭvāṅga, with hands like tender shoots, surrounded by her four divine sons such as Naigameya and others; Nandinī, daughter of Menā, lotus-born and lotus-eyed, daughter of the sorrowless Ambā and the great-souled Nandin; the peaceful friend of Śubhāvatī, bestower of boons, Pañcacūḍā, who for the sake of all creation has attained the imperishable state of primordial nature. She who manifests through the twenty-three principles beginning with Mahat, always honored by powers such as Lakṣmī—she is Nandanandinī. Manonmanī, the great Goddess, mistress of illusion, fond of adornment, whose māyā encompasses the entire world from Brahmā onwards, both moving and unmoving; the agitator, the enchantress, ever abiding in the hearts of yogis, existing as one and as many, with eyes like blue lotuses. She is ever praised by all the gods with supreme devotion—by Ganesha, Lotus-born Brahmā, Indra, Yama, Kubera, and others. Their mother is extolled as the destroyer of all calamities, remover of suffering for devotees, auspicious, and destroyer of the states of existence and becoming. She is the divine giver of enjoyment and liberation, effortlessly for her devotees; may that great Goddess directly dispel my sins. Canda, lord of all hosts, emerged from the mouth of Śambhu, devoted to Śiva-worship, glorious—may he dispel my sins. The son of Śalankāyana, arisen from the plough, the lord, son-in-law of the Maruts, god, supreme lord of all beings—all-pervading, all-seeing Sharva, master resembling the lord of all, with the gods including Nārāyaṇa, Indra, Chandra, and the sun, with Siddhas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, spirits, creators of beings, serpents, sages, and the great-souled Brahmā. Praised as the lord of the three worlds, the sage dwelling within the city, always worshipped by all—may Nandi dispel my sins. Of great form and brilliance, another like Mahādeva, devoted to Śiva-worship, glorious—may he dispel my sins. Breaker of the peaks of Meru, Mandara, Kailāsa, and other ridges, worshipped by the divine elephants like Airāvata and the guardians of the directions. Thus is the greatness of the vow and the glory of the hymn revealed, bringing the devotee to the blessed feet of Śiva, the remover of all sin, the bestower of every boon, and the ultimate refuge of all beings.