भुक्त्वा युगसहस्राणि रुद्रलोके महीयते
Having enjoyed for thousands of ages, he is honored in Rudra’s world.
नित्यं प्रमुदितस्तत्र भुक्त्वा लोकमनामयम्
Always joyful there, having enjoyed the flawless world.
स्पृहणीयवपुः स्त्रीणां महाभोगपतिर्भवेत्
He becomes a man whose form is desired by women and who possesses great wealth.
वानप्रस्थसमाचारो वनौषधिविवर्जितः
He follows the practices of a forest-dweller, abstaining from forest herbs.
कणाशनोऽश्मकुट्टो वा दंतोलूखलकोऽथ वा
He eats morsels, crushes stones, or uses a toothless mortar.
जटी त्रिषवणस्नायी मुक्तकेशः सुदंडवान्
He wears matted hair, bathes three times daily, lets his hair loose, and carries a good staff.
कीटकंटकपाषाणभूम्यां तु शयनं तथा
His bed is upon earth infested with insects, thorns, and stones.
अरण्यौषधिभोक्ता च सर्वभूताभयप्रदः
He eats forest herbs and grants fearlessness to all creatures.
रुद्रभक्तः क्षेत्रवासी महाकालवने मुनिः 5.1.7.
He is devoted to Rudra, dwells in sacred fields, and is a sage in the great forest of Time.
यश्चात्र वसते व्यास शृणु तस्य हि या गतिः
Vyasa, listen: whoever dwells here, hear what their destiny is.
रुद्रभक्तो विमानेन याति कामप्रचारिणा
Devoted to Rudra, he travels in a celestial chariot that moves at will.
गीतवादित्रशब्देन संवृतोऽप्सरसां गणै
He is surrounded by groups of apsaras, accompanied by the sounds of singing and instruments.
रुद्रलोकाच्च्युतश्चापि विष्णुलोके महीयते
Even if he falls from Rudra's world, he is honored in Vishnu's realm.
तस्मादपि च्युतः स्थानाद्द्वीपेषु स हि जायते
If he falls from that place, he is born among the islands.
भुक्तैश्वर्यो नरस्तेषु मर्त्यामर्त्येषु जायते सुरूपः सुभगः कांतः कीर्तिमान्रुद्रभावितः
There, he enjoys prosperity; among mortals and immortals he is born handsome, fortunate, charming, renowned, and imbued with Rudra's grace.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा वा क्षेत्रवासिनः
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, or Shudras—those who dwell in sacred fields,
सर्वात्मना रुद्रभक्ता भूतानुग्रहकारिणः
All are devoted to Rudra in every way and act for the welfare of beings.
मृतास्ते रुद्रभवने विमानैर्यांति शोभनैः
When they die, they go to Rudra's abode in splendid chariots.
अथवा संविदग्नौ च शरीरं विजुहोति यः 5.1.7.
Or, if one offers his body into the fire of knowledge,
रुद्रलोकोऽक्षयस्तेषां शाश्वतो गुह्यकैः सह
For them, Rudra's world is imperishable and eternal, together with the secret beings.
ये त्यजंति महाकाले प्राणान नशनैर्नराः
Those men who surrender their lives at Mahākāla, by fasting unto death,
सांख्याः स्तुवंति ते रुद्रं सर्वदुःखविवर्जिताः अनाशकमृताः शूद्रा महाकालवने नराः
Those followers of Sāṃkhya praise Rudra, being free from all suffering; and the Śūdras who die by fasting in the Mahākāla forest,
सिंहयुक्तैस्तु ते यांति विमानैरर्कसन्निभैः
They ascend in chariots yoked with lions, shining like the sun.
नानावर्णसुवर्णाढ्यैर्हृष्टगंधाधिवा सितैः । अनौपम्यगुणै रम्यैरप्सरोगीतवादिभिः
Adorned with various colors and rich in gold, fragrant with delightful scents, possessing incomparable and charming qualities, accompanied by the songs and music of apsarases,
पताकाध्वजविन्यस्तैर्नानाघंटानिनादितैः
Decorated with banners and flags, resounding with the ringing of many bells,
रुद्रलोके नरा धीराः सर्वे चानशनैर्मृताः धनी विप्रकुले भोगी जायते मर्त्यमागतः
In Rudra's world, all steadfast men who died by fasting are born again among mortals as wealthy, noble, and prosperous men in the families of Brāhmaṇas.
करीषं साधयेद्यस्तु महाकालवने नरः
But the man who prepares cow dung in the Mahākāla forest,
रुद्रलोके वसेत्तावद्यावत्कल्पक्षयो भवेत्
He dwells in Rudra's world until the end of the kalpa.
तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगानिह जातो महीपतिः 5.1.7.
Having enjoyed great pleasures there, he is born here as a king.
स्वधर्मनिरताश्चैव जितक्रोधा जितेंद्रियाः
Those devoted to their own duty, who have conquered anger and mastered their senses,