All that is learned, heard, or accomplished in this world finds its fulfillment in one who has firmly practiced the sacred mantra, “Obeisance to Shiva.” For one whose tongue is constantly graced by the three syllables “to Shiva,” especially when joined with acts of reverence and salutation, life itself becomes truly fruitful and meaningful. It matters not whether a person is outcaste, of low birth, ignorant, or learned—anyone who is steadfast in reciting the five-syllabled mantra is liberated from the cage of sin. This teaching was spoken by the great Lord Shiva, the Trident-bearer, in response to the Goddess’s question, for the benefit of all mortals, and especially for the twice-born. Now, consider the age of Kali, when time itself is corrupt, unconquerable, and difficult to overcome. In this era, the world is shrouded in the greatest impurity and has turned away from the path of righteousness. The practices of caste and stage of life decline, hardships arise, and all authority is cast into doubt or transition. Instruction ceases, the tradition of teacher and disciple is lost, and confusion reigns. In such a time, by what means, O Great Lord, are your devotees to be liberated? The answer comes: those men of the Kali age who take refuge in my supreme, heartfelt five-syllabled mantra, and who are devoted in mind, are indeed liberated. Even for those corrupted by faults of mind, speech, and body—for the ungrateful, the slanderers, the deceitful, and those unable even to speak or remember—even for the greedy and those with crooked minds, if their hearts are inclined toward me, my five-syllabled mantra carries them across the ocean of worldly fear. O Goddess, I have declared this truth again and again upon the earth: even if my devotee falls from righteousness, by means of this knowledge he is liberated. But if a mortal is unfit for action and falls in every way, then through that ineligibility, whatever deed is done leads to hell; so how, then, could one who is fallen be freed by this knowledge? What you have said is true, O beautiful one. Therefore, listen to this secret, which I once concealed, considering it too profound for all. If one who has fallen and is deluded worships me with a mantra, but not with my five-syllabled mantra, there is no doubt he becomes hell-bound. Those who subsist on water or air, and others who are emaciated by vows—by these vows alone, they do not attain my world. Yet whoever worships me even once with devotion using the five-syllabled mantra attains my supreme abode, owing to the greatness of this mantra. Therefore, austerities, sacrifices, vows, and observances—even in a fraction of a crore—are not equal to the worship performed with the five-syllabled mantra. Whether bound or liberated from bonds, whoever worships me with this mantra is freed—there is no need for further consideration. Whether a person is free from anger or filled with it, whether fallen or deluded, if he worships with the five-syllabled mantra, he is liberated. O Goddess, whether it is with the six-syllabled or the five-syllabled mantra, if one worships me with devotion in the proper manner, he is liberated. Whether fallen or not, whether anger is conquered or not, whether spiritual attainment has been reached or not—my devotee who worships me with this mantra is always superior. Whether attained or not attained here, such a devotee is many millions of times greater. Therefore, O Goddess, having attained me, one should worship me with this mantra. But whoever, having attained, worships me with qualities such as friendliness, devoted to celibacy and with devotion, attains likeness to myself. Why say more? All my devotees are capable of everything. Among them, the one devoted to the five-syllabled mantra is the most excellent. By the power of this mantra, the worlds, the Vedas, the great sages, the eternal laws, the gods, and the entire universe are sustained. When the time of dissolution arrives, and all that is moving and unmoving is destroyed, everything returns to its primal nature and merges there. Then I alone remain, O Goddess; there is no second anywhere. At that time, the Vedas and all the scriptures are established in the five-syllabled mantra. They do not reach destruction, for they are protected by my power; then creation arises from me, through the distinction of nature and self. When the dissolution of the inner qualities takes place, the god Nārāyaṇa, embodying those qualities, lies down, assuming a body made of Māyā. Reclining upon the serpent-bed in the midst of the waters, from the lotus that springs from his navel is born the five-faced Grandfather, Brahmā. Desiring to create the three worlds, unattached and without assistance, Brahmā first creates the ten great sages, born from his mind and possessing immense energy. For their attainment and growth, the Grandfather addresses me: “O Great Lord, bestow power upon my sons, O Maheśvara.” Thus requested, I, bearing five faces, speak the five sacred syllables in order to the Lotus-born. The Grandfather of the worlds, with his five faces, receives them and, through the relationship of word and meaning, comes to know me, Maheśvara. Having understood the various applications, the Lord of creatures, accomplished in mantra, gives the mantra and its meaning to his sons, just as it was received. The sages, having received the jewel of mantras directly from the Grandfather of the worlds, follow the prescribed path and desire my worship. On the beautiful summit of Meru stands a mountain named Munjavat, ever dear to me, splendid, and always protected by my devotees. Near that place, eager to create the world, those sages perform intense austerity for a divine thousand years, subsisting only on air. Seeing their devotion, I immediately manifest before them, along with the seer, the meter, the pin, the seed-power, and the deity. For the increase of the world’s creation, I teach them the sixfold nyāsa, the binding of directions, and all the applications, in their entirety.