With this very body, a person attains the world of Rudra. Now, listen as I reveal that which destroys all sins. After performing the sacred śrāddha rites, one should bow in reverence to Mahākāla and to Īśāna, the Lord. Then, approaching the god Gaṇeśa, known as Piṅgaleśvara, and proceeding to the holy shrine of Mahākāleśvara, the devotee should bathe again with senses under control. He should spend the night in the direction of Īśāna, observing a fast through the night. On the twelfth day, as before, after bathing in the morning, the person should continue with the rites. On the thirteenth day, he should worship Bilveśa in the west. On the new moon, having bathed and purified himself, he should offer worship to Mahākāleśvara. With singing, dancing, and other devotional acts, he should bow low and humbly seek forgiveness. He must feed five Brāhmaṇas who are devoted to the worship of Śiva, honoring them with gifts of gold and nine fine garments. In addition, he should give a horse to Bilveśvara and a bull to Uttareśvara. Whoever performs these acts, O Vyāsa, listen to the merit and reward that follow: together with his ancestors from both paternal and maternal lineages, and his entire family, he rejoices in heaven. It is as though he has circumambulated the entire earth with its seven continents. Furthermore, whoever beholds Padmāvatī and worships her with lotuses, or comes before the golden shrine adorned with radiant flowers, or beholds Avantinī, the goddess renowned throughout the three worlds, or worships the goddess Amarāvatī with devotion and lotuses, or with a concentrated mind gazes upon the goddess Ujjayinī with devotion, or beholds Viśālā with a heart full of devotion to Rudra, where Akūreśvara is named and the accomplished Pitāmaha, Brahmā, resides—such a person, having performed worship of the gods on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī while fasting, should remain at home in the morning without speaking to anyone. By these acts, he is freed from terrible sin and, upon death, attains the world of Brahmā. There, Brahmā sits upon a lotus, contemplating the supreme state, surrounded by the honored ancestors of the worlds, who are venerated by men on earth. The planets, the sun, the stars, the yakshas, the guardians of the directions, fire, and wind—all are present there. Then arises the question: “How do you meditate, O Lord of the gods? Tell us all this.” The answer is given: there are two forms of mine, both eternal and embodying my very essence. By beholding these forms, supreme accomplishment is granted. For the sake of sacrifice, I, Parameṣṭhin, requested Śrīkaṇṭha, the husband of Pārvatī. That god addressed me, saying, “I grant you all, O Lord, except for the Mahākāla forest.” And Kapardin declared, “We will not come near you.” Thus, the sacrifice began, with Nārāyaṇa as the presiding deity. Kapardin came to the sacrificial enclosure, seeking alms. There, Kapardin said, “I will go again.” Then, Kapardin, the supreme lord, went to the river Śiprā to bathe. But a question arose: “How can the offering be made in the assembly when the skull is present?