ततस्तत्समयोन्निद्रैः पुष्पैरतिसुगंधिभिः निर्वर्त्य शिवयोः पूजां प्रारभेत पुरोदितम्
Then, with flowers of exquisite fragrance, gathered at the proper time, one should complete the worship of Shiva and the Goddess as previously described.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवाश्रमनिषेविणाम् शिवशास्त्रोक्तमार्गेण नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमम्
Now I shall explain, for those devoted to Shiva's hermitage, the occasional rites according to the procedure taught in the scriptures of Shiva.
सर्वेष्वपि च मासेषु पक्षयोरुभयोरपि अष्टाभ्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तथा पर्वाणि च क्रमात्
In every month, in both fortnights, on the eighth and fourteenth days, and likewise on the festival days in order,
अयने विषुवे चैव ग्रहणेषु विशेषतः कर्तव्या महती पूजा ह्यधिका वापि शक्तितः
At the solstices, equinoxes, and especially during eclipses, one should perform a great worship, or an even greater one, according to one's ability.
मासिमासि यथान्यायं ब्रह्मकूर्चं प्रसाध्य तु स्नापयित्वा शिवं तेन पिबेच्छेषमुपोषितः
Each month, as is proper, after preparing the Brahmakurcha, one should bathe Shiva with it, and, having fasted, drink the remainder.
ब्रह्महत्यादिदोषाणामतीव महतामपि निष्कृतिर्ब्रह्मकूर्चस्य पानान्नान्या विशिष्यते
For even the gravest sins, such as the killing of a Brahmin, there is no expiation greater than drinking the Brahmakurcha.
पौषे पुष्यनक्षत्रे कुर्यान्नीराजनं विभोः माघे मघाख्ये नक्षत्रे प्रदद्याद् घृतकंबलम्
In the month of Pausha, under the Pushya star, one should perform the waving of lights for the Lord; in Magha, under the Magha star, one should offer a ghee-soaked blanket.
फाल्गुने चोत्तरान्ते वै प्रारभेत महोत्सवम् चैत्रे चित्रापौर्णमास्यां दोलां कुर्याद्यथाविधि
At the end of Uttara in Phalguna, one should begin the great festival; in Chaitra, on the full moon of Chitra, one should properly perform the swing festival.
वैशाख्यां तु विशाखायां कुर्यात्पुष्पमहालयम् ज्येष्ठे मूलाख्यनक्षत्रे शीतकुम्भं प्रदापयेत्
In the month of Vaiśākha, on the day of Viśākhā, one should establish a great temple of flowers; in Jyeṣṭha, under the Mūla constellation, one should offer a cool water pot.
आषाढे चोत्तराषाढे पवित्रारोपणं तथा श्रावणे प्राकृतान्यापि मण्डलानि प्रकल्पयेत्
In Āṣāḍha, on Uttarāṣāḍhā, one should perform the installation of sacred threads; likewise, in Śrāvaṇa, one should arrange the customary mandalas.
श्रविष्ठाख्ये तु नक्षत्रे प्रौष्ठपद्यां ततः परम् प्रोक्षयेच्च जलक्रीडां पूर्वाषाढाश्रये दिने
On the day of the Śraviṣṭhā constellation, and then on the new moon of Bhādrapada, one should perform the ritual sprinkling and water play on a day presided over by Pūrvāṣāḍhā.
आश्वयुज्यां ततो दद्यात्पायसं च नवोदनम् अग्निकार्यं च तेनैव कुर्याच्छतभिषग्दिने
In Āśvayuja, one should offer milk-rice and newly harvested grain; on the day of Śatabhiṣak, one should perform the fire ritual accordingly.
कार्तिक्यां कृतिकायोगे दद्याद्दीपसहस्रकम् मार्गशीर्षे तथार्द्रायां घृतेन स्नापयेच्छिवम्
In Kārtika, when Kṛttikā is present, one should offer a thousand lamps; in Mārgaśīrṣa, on the day of Ārdrā, one should bathe Śiva with ghee.
अशक्तस्तेषु कालेषु कुर्यादुत्सवमेव वा आस्थानं वा महापूजामधिकं वा समर्चनम्
If one is unable at those times, one may instead hold a festival, or establish a seat, or perform a great worship, or offer special adoration.
आवृत्ते ऽपि च कल्याणे प्रशस्तेष्वपि कर्मसु दौर्मनस्ये दुराचारे दुःस्वप्ने दुष्टदर्शने
Even when auspicious rites are completed, or in the midst of praiseworthy actions, if there is distress, misconduct, evil dreams, or inauspicious visions,
उत्पाते वाशुभेन्यस्मिन्रोगे वा प्रबले ऽथ वा स्नानपूजाजपध्यानहोमदानादिकाः क्रियः
Or if there is calamity, misfortune, or severe illness, then one should perform acts such as bathing, worship, recitation, meditation, fire offerings, and gifts.
निर्मितानुगुणाः कार्याः पुरश्चरणपूर्विकाः शिवानले च विहते पुनस्सन्धानमाचरेत्
These prescribed acts should be performed in accordance with the rules, preceded by proper preparation; if the Śiva fire ritual is interrupted, one should restore it again.
य एवं शर्वधर्मिष्ठो वर्तते नित्यमुद्यतः तस्यैकजन्मना मुक्तिं प्रयच्छति महेश्वरः
Whoever thus lives devoted to Śarva’s dharma, ever diligent, to him the great Lord grants liberation in a single birth.
एतद्यथोत्तरं कुर्यान्नित्यनैमित्तिकेषु यः दिव्यं श्रीकंठनाथस्य स्थानमाद्यं स गच्छति
Whoever performs these acts as prescribed, both regularly and on special occasions, attains the divine, supreme abode of Śrīkaṇṭhanātha.
तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान्कल्पकोटिशतन्नरः कालांतरेच्युतस्तस्मादौमं कौमारमेव च
There, after enjoying great pleasures for hundreds of millions of aeons, when the time comes, he departs from there and attains the Uma or Kaumāra realm.
संप्राप्य वैष्णवं ब्राह्मं रुद्रलोकं विशेषतः तत्रोषित्वा चिरं कालं भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथोदितान्
Having reached the Vaiṣṇava, Brāhma, and especially the Rudra worlds, and having dwelt there for a long time, enjoying the pleasures as described,
पुनश्चोर्ध्वं गतस्तस्मादतीत्य स्थानपञ्चकम् श्रीकण्ठाज्ज्ञानमासाद्य तस्माच्छैवपुरं व्रजेत्
Then, rising further from there, surpassing the five regions, and attaining knowledge from Śrīkaṇṭha, he proceeds to the city of Śiva.
अर्धचर्यारतश्चापि द्विरावृत्त्यैवमेव तु पश्चाज्ज्ञानं समासाद्य शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्
Even one who is engaged in half the practice, by repeating it twice in this way, later attains knowledge and reaches union with Śiva.
अर्धार्धचरितो यस्तु देही देहक्षयात्परम् अंडांतं वोर्ध्वमव्यक्तमतीत्य भुवनद्वयम्
But one who has practiced only a quarter, at the end of the body, goes beyond the cosmic egg and the two worlds, reaching the unmanifest above.
संप्राप्य पौरुषं रौद्रस्थानमद्रीन्द्रजापतेः अनेकयुगसाहस्रं भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकधा
There, attaining the Pauruṣa and Raudra realms of the Lord of mountains, he enjoys various pleasures for thousands of ages in many ways.
पुण्यक्षये क्षितिं प्राप्य कुले महति जायते तत्रापि पूर्वसंस्कारवशेन स महाद्युतिः
When his merit is exhausted, he is born on earth in a great family, and there too, by the force of previous impressions, he is endowed with great brilliance.
पशुधर्मान्परित्यज्य शिवधर्मरतो भवेत् तद्धर्मगौरवादेव ध्यात्वा शिवपुरं व्रजेत्
Abandoning the ways of the bound soul, one should delight in the Dharma of Shiva; out of reverence for that Dharma, meditating, one should go to the city of Shiva.
भोगांश्च विविधान्भुक्त्वा विद्येश्वरपदं व्रजेत् तत्र विद्येश्वरैस्सार्धं भुक्त्वा भोगान्बहून्क्रमात्
Having enjoyed various pleasures, one attains the station of the Vidyeshvaras; there, together with the Vidyeshvaras, one enjoys many pleasures in succession.
अण्डस्यांतर्बहिर्वाथ सकृदावर्तते पुनः ततो लब्ध्वा शिवज्ञानं परां भक्तिमवाप्य च
Whether within or outside the cosmic egg, one revolves once again; then, having obtained knowledge of Shiva and supreme devotion,
शिवसाधर्म्यमासाद्य न भूयो विनिवर्तते यश्चातीव शिवे भक्तो विषयासक्तचित्तवत्
Having attained likeness with Shiva, one does not return again; and even one who is extremely devoted to Shiva, though his mind is attached to sense-objects,