कृतो मेऽनुग्रहस्तेषां भक्तानां भक्तिमिच्छताम्
I have bestowed my grace upon those devotees who desire devotion.
महाकालवने देवा आगतस्य ममानघाः
In the great Kāla forest, O sinless ones, the gods came to me.
नामद्वययुतं गुह्यं लोके ख्यातं भविष्यति
A secret name with two words will become renowned in the world.
कपालव्रतचर्या च मया ह्येषा प्रकीर्तिता
Indeed, this observance of the skull vow has been proclaimed by me.
कपालपाणिः संतुष्टो भिक्षा व्रतसमन्वितः 5.1.6.
Kapālapāṇi, satisfied and endowed with the vow of alms,
नंदितः सर्वभूतेषु प्रियाप्रियसमः सदा
Honored among all beings, always equal to friend and foe,
जितेंद्रियोऽसर्वसंगो मृद्भस्मोदकसंग्रही
Self-controlled, unattached to all, gathering clay, ashes, and water,
पुण्यतीर्थाश्रमोपेतः स्वरे देवे समाहितः
Dwelling in holy hermitages and sacred fords, his mind fixed on the Lord,
कपालव्रतमास्थाय पुरा चीर्णं मया स्वयम्
Having undertaken the skull vow, I myself practiced it in ancient times.
कपालव्रतमेतद्धि दुर्धरं परमाद्भुतम्
This skull vow is indeed difficult to sustain and supremely wondrous.
महाव्रतं द्विषन्मोहात्पापेनैव स्थितो नरः
A man, due to hatred and delusion, remains in sin, abandoning the great vow.
महापाशुपतं तस्मान्न हन्यान्न च दूषयेत्
Therefore, one should neither harm nor revile the great Pāśupata.
एवं महाव्रतं यस्तु भोजयेच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः
Whoever, endowed with faith, feeds one observing this great vow,
कपालपूरणीं भिक्षां यतीनां यः प्रयच्छति
Whoever gives alms filling the skull to ascetics,
कपाले भोजनं श्रेष्ठं मार्गोऽयं ब्रह्मसंभवः 5.1.6.
Food in the skull is supreme; this path is born of Brahman.
इत्यादिदुष्टदोषश्च तस्य संभाषणादपि 5.1.6.
Thus, even by conversing with him, such faults and evils arise.
दृष्ट्वा च शिष्टमथ ३ महाव्रतधरो नरः
And seeing the remainder, then the man who upholds the great vow—
एतत्कृतयुगे सर्वं प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते वने 5.1.6.
In this Kṛta age, all this is seen directly in the forest.
पठति य इह लोके तस्य संस्थानमेतत्प्रथितगुणगणौघैरर्चितं दोषहं तत्
Whoever recites this here in the world, for him this abode—honored by hosts of renowned virtues and destroyer of faults—belongs.
रुद्रलोकमभीप्सद्भिर्वस्तव्यं क्षेत्रवासिभिः
Those who desire the world of Rudra should dwell as residents of sacred places.
किं मनुष्यैरुत स्त्रीभिः सिद्ध्यर्थं ह्याश्रमान्वितैः
What need is there of men or women, even those established in spiritual disciplines, for the sake of attainment?
नरैः स्त्रीभिश्च वस्तव्यं वर्णैश्चाश्रमवासिभिः
Both men and women should reside, along with those of the social orders and stages of life.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा रुद्रभक्तैर्यतेन्द्रियैः किं कुर्वाणैर्नरैः कर्म रुद्रभक्तिं ब्रवीहि नः
By action, mind, and speech, with devotion to Rudra and self-controlled senses—what acts should people perform? Tell us about devotion to Rudra.
लौकिकी वैदिकी चान्या भवेदाध्यात्मिकी तथा
There are worldly, Vedic, and other kinds, as well as those pertaining to the inner self.
ध्यानधारणया बुद्ध्या रुद्राणां स्मरणं हि तत्
Through meditation, concentration, and intellect, there is remembrance of the Rudras.
व्रतोपवासनियमैर्यतेद्रियनिरोधिभिः
By vows, fasting, observances, and restraint of the senses.
गोघृतक्षीरदधिभिर्गंधरक्तकुशो दकैः
With offerings of cow's ghee, milk, curds, fragrant substances, red kusa grass, and gifts.
घृतगुग्गुलधूपैश्च कृष्णागरुसुगंधिभिः
With clarified butter, incense of guggulu, and fragrant black aloewood.
वासप्रविसरास्तोत्रैः पताकाव्यजनोच्छ्रितैः 5.1.7.
With garments, spreading perfumes, hymns of praise, flags, fans, and elevated decorations.
भक्ष्यभोज्यानुपानैश्च यावत्पूजाक्षतैर्नरैः
With foods to eat and enjoy, drinks, and up to the grains used in worship, by people.