iti - with these words; mūḍhaḥ - the fool; pratijñāya - having vowed; devam - the lord; paśu-patim - Śiva, the protector of animallike men; prabhum - his master; āradhayām āsa - worshiped; nṛpaḥ - the King; pāmśu - of dust; muṣṭim - a handful; sakṛt - once (daily); grasan - eating.

Having thus made his vow, the foolish King proceeded to worship Lord Paśupati [Śiva] as his deity by eating a handful of dust each day, and nothing more.