O awakened one, O boar-formed expert in all scriptures, please dispel my ignorance by revealing this sacred narrative. After hearing this, one should joyfully undertake a vow for their own welfare, observing it for seven nights according to their capacity. To ensure the uninterrupted flow of the narration, five Brahmins should be chosen, and they should recite the twelve-syllable mantra of Hari. Having bowed to and honored the Brahmins, the Vaiṣṇavas, and those who perform kīrtana, and after giving them proper instructions, the listener should take their seat. Setting aside all concerns for wealth, possessions, home, and children, with the mind absorbed in the story and pure in intention, one attains the highest result. The narration should begin at sunrise and continue for three and a half watches of the day, recited properly and steadily by a wise person. At midday, the narration pauses for two ghaṭikās, during which time the Vaiṣṇavas should perform kīrtana. For mastery over bodily functions, a light and comforting meal should be taken; the seeker of the narrative should eat havis food only once. If able, one may fast for seven nights and then listen, or, after drinking ghee or milk, listen comfortably. Alternatively, one may subsist on fruit or eat only once; whatever is easily accomplished should be done for the purpose of listening. Eating is preferable for those listening to the narrative, for fasting is not recommended if it interrupts the narration. Hear, O Nārada, the rules for those undertaking the seven-day vow: those who are not initiated into Viṣṇu are not eligible to listen to the narrative. Observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, eating from leaves, and partaking of food only after the narration is completed—these should be practiced daily by one observing the vow. One should always avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale. Desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred should be kept far away. One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should avoid speaking ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, those observing vows, women, kings, and great souls. One should not 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. Truthfulness, purity, compassion, silence, simplicity, humility, and generosity of mind should be practiced. The poor, the wasting, the sick, the unfortunate, those engaged in sinful acts, the childless, and those desiring liberation should listen to this story. A woman who does not conceive, whose children die, who is barren, who has lost her child, or who suffers miscarriage should carefully hear this story. When this story is heard according to the prescribed method by such persons, it yields inexhaustible merit; this divine, most excellent story bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices. Having thus performed the vow, one should complete its conclusion, just as those desiring results perform 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, the book and the speaker should be worshipped with great devotion by the listeners. Then, garlands of sacred basil should be given to the listeners, and melodious kīrtana with mṛdaṅga and cymbals should be performed. Shouts of victory, words of reverence, and the sound of conch shells should fill the air; 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, then a fire sacrifice should be done for the purification of actions. For each verse, one should offer, according to the proper method, sweet rice, honey, ghee, and sesame mixed with other ingredients, especially for the Tenth Canto. Alternatively, the fire offering may be performed with the Gāyatrī mantra, with full concentration, because the Purāṇa is of the same essence as the Supreme. If unable to perform the fire offering, a wise person should give the materials for it to others, to attain its result and remove various obstacles and deficiencies or excesses. To pacify faults, one should recite the thousand names of the Lord; by this, everything becomes fruitful, for there is nothing greater than this. Afterwards, twelve brāhmaṇas should be fed with sweet rice and honey, and gold and a cow should be given to complete the vow. If able, one should fashion a lion of gold weighing three palas, and there place the book, written in beautiful script. Having honored the teacher with proper offerings, beginning with invitation and including all the attendant rites with due gifts, as well as clothing, ornaments, fragrances, and the like, to the one who is self-controlled and worthy of worship—if a wise person gives this to the teacher, he becomes freed from the bonds of worldly existence; in this way, by performing the prescribed rite, all sins are removed. This auspicious Purāṇa, the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, bestows results; it is certainly the means for attaining righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation—there is no doubt. The Kumāras said: Thus, everything has been told to you; what more do you wish to hear? Since the Śrīmad Bhāgavata itself grants both enjoyment and liberation. Sūta then said: Having spoken thus, those great souls recited the Bhāgavata narrative, which destroys all sins, is meritorious, and bestows both enjoyment and liberation. For seven days, all beings with controlled minds listened as prescribed, and then they praised the Supreme Person, the best among the gods. At the end of that, the strength of knowledge, detachment, and devotion became supreme; a youthful vigor arose, enchanting all beings.