Devoted to Rudra, a blessed soul journeys through the heavens in a celestial chariot that moves wherever his will desires. Around him gather groups of radiant apsaras, their melodious singing and the music of their instruments filling the air as he travels in divine delight. Even if, by some fate, he falls from Rudra’s world, he is received with honor in the realm of Vishnu. Should he descend further from that high place, he is born among the islands of the earth. There, prosperity attends him. Among both mortals and immortals, he is reborn as one who is handsome, fortunate, charming, and renowned, ever graced by Rudra’s favor. Whether Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra, all those who dwell in sacred fields and are devoted to Rudra in every way, acting always for the welfare of all beings—when their time comes, they ascend to Rudra’s abode in splendid chariots. There are others, too, who offer their very bodies into the fire of knowledge. For them, Rudra’s world is imperishable and eternal, and they are joined by the secret, celestial beings. Some, surrendering their lives at Mahākāla through the vow of fasting unto death, are freed from all suffering. Followers of Sāṃkhya praise Rudra, and even Shudras who die by fasting in the Mahākāla forest ascend in chariots yoked with lions, shining like the sun itself. These chariots are adorned with every color, rich in gold, fragrant with delightful scents, and possess incomparable and charming qualities. The songs and music of apsarases accompany them, while banners and flags flutter above, and the air rings with the sound of many bells. In Rudra’s world, all steadfast men who died by fasting are reborn among mortals as wealthy, noble, and prosperous men in the families of Brāhmaṇas. But consider also the one who prepares cow dung in the Mahākāla forest—he dwells in Rudra’s world until the very end of the kalpa. Having enjoyed great pleasures there, he is eventually born on earth as a king. Those who are devoted to their own duty, who have conquered anger and mastered their senses, surely reach Rudra’s world—there is no doubt of this. Even those who do not reside in the sacred field, or who do not practice strict observances—the mute, the dull, the blind, the deaf, and those lacking in austerity and discipline—when they die by the force of time, O Vyāsa, they too go to Rudra’s world. There, they receive divine bodies, endowed with all enjoyments. Once, there arose a quarrel between Śiva and Gaurī, for the goddess Pārvatī had been reviled as Kālī. In the beginning, a pit was made at that sacred place, named the Destroyer of Quarrels. Whoever bathes at that site and worships the great Lord, whoever offers even a fragment of sandalwood as a gift, or donates land, or gives a single cow, a single wish, or even a finger’s breadth of land—be it a cow, a horse, sesame seeds, cloth, a vessel, or a copper milking pot—those who give these to Brahmins find their worlds are forever inexhaustible. There, too, dwells the goddess who removes the sins of all worlds. Whoever bathes there and respectfully beholds the backs of the mothers, and then proceeds along the path, finds blessings. Whether in one’s own land or another, on mountains or in forests, in all afflictions caused by planets, or in fear from kings and the like—whoever, addressing the goddess, is a Brahmin, attains the fruit he desires.