After preparing oneself, one should respectfully take up a coconut and offer salutations, all the while reciting words of praise with a cheerful heart. At this sacred moment, it is to be remembered that the scripture known as the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is verily Krishna Himself, manifest before us. Addressing the Lord, one should declare, “O Lord, I have accepted You as the means to cross the vast ocean of worldly existence and attain liberation.” With a heart full of gratitude, one should acknowledge, “O Keśava, You have entirely fulfilled my cherished desire. Without hindrance, may my endeavor be completed, for I am Your servant.” Having spoken these humble words, the speaker of the narrative should be honored with gifts of garments and ornaments. After the worship, further praise should be offered to him. Turning to the Lord, one prays, “O awakened One, who once took the form of a boar, O knower of all scriptures, by the revelation of this sacred narrative, please destroy my ignorance.” Thereafter, with joy and for one’s own welfare, a vow should be undertaken and observed for seven nights, according to one’s ability. To ensure the narration proceeds without interruption, five Brahmins should be selected, and they should recite the twelve-syllable mantra of Hari. With reverence, one should bow to and honor Brahmins, Vaiṣṇavas, and all those who perform kīrtana, giving them due instructions before taking one’s own seat. During this period, all concerns for wealth, property, home, and children should be set aside. With the mind purified and absorbed in the narrative, one attains the highest result. The narration should begin at sunrise and continue steadily for three and a half watches of the day, recited properly by a wise person with a steady voice. At midday, the narration should pause for two ghaṭikās, during which time the Vaiṣṇavas should perform kīrtana. To maintain mastery over bodily needs, one should partake of a light meal that brings comfort, eating havis food only once. If possible, one may fast for the entire seven nights and listen; otherwise, drinking ghee or milk is also permitted. Alternatively, one may subsist on fruit or eat only once a day—whatever is manageable should be practiced for the sake of attentive listening. However, eating is considered preferable for those listening to the narrative, for fasting is not recommended if it causes any interruption to the recitation. O Nārada, listen to the rules for those undertaking this seven-day vow: only those initiated into Viṣṇu are eligible to hear this sacred story. The vow entails observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, eating from leaves, and only after the day’s narrative is complete. These practices should be followed each day. One must avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale. Desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred are to be kept far away. One who observes the vow of reciting these stories must not speak ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, those observing vows, women, kings, or great souls. Nor should one converse with women in their period, outcastes, foreigners, the fallen, those outside the Vedic fold, haters of the twice-born, or those opposed to the Vedas. Instead, one should practice truthfulness, purity, compassion, silence, simplicity, humility, and generosity of mind. The poor, the ailing, the unfortunate, those engaged in sinful acts, the childless, and those desiring liberation should especially listen to this story. Women who do not conceive, who have lost children, who are barren, or have suffered miscarriage should also carefully hear this narrative. When such persons listen to the story in the prescribed manner, it yields inexhaustible merit. This divine, most excellent story bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices. After performing the vow, one should conclude it in the same manner as those who observe the Janmāṣṭamī vow. For those who are destitute but devoted, there is generally no insistence on the concluding rite, for they are purified simply by hearing, being desireless Vaiṣṇavas. When the sacrifice of narrating the story is completed, both the book and the speaker should be worshipped with great devotion by the listeners. Then, garlands of sacred basil should be distributed among the listeners, and melodious kīrtana, accompanied by mṛdaṅga and cymbals, should be performed. Shouts of victory, words of reverence, and the sound of conch shells should fill the air, and wealth and food should be given to brāhmaṇas and beggars. If the listener is detached, singing and instrumental music should be performed the next day; if a householder, a fire sacrifice should be conducted for the purification of actions. For each verse, offerings of sweet rice, honey, ghee, and sesame mixed with other ingredients should be made, especially for the Tenth Canto. Alternatively, the fire offering may be performed with the Gāyatrī mantra, with full concentration, for the Purāṇa is of the same essence as the Supreme. If unable to perform the fire offering, a wise person should give the necessary materials to others, to remove any obstacles or deficiencies. To pacify any faults, one should recite the thousand names of the Lord, for by this, all becomes fruitful—there is nothing greater than this. Afterwards, twelve brāhmaṇas should be fed with sweet rice and honey, and gifts of gold and a cow should be given to complete the vow. If able, one should fashion a lion of gold weighing three palas, and upon it place the book, beautifully written. The teacher, who is self-controlled and worthy of worship, should be honored with proper offerings beginning with an invitation, and including all attendant rites, gifts, clothing, ornaments, fragrances, and more. If a wise person gives this to the teacher, he becomes freed from the bonds of worldly existence. Thus, by performing the prescribed rite, all sins are removed. This auspicious Purāṇa, the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, bestows results and is certainly the means for attaining righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation—of this, there is no doubt.