Om, obeisance to Vāsudeva! The scriptures teach that one should offer oblations of ghee, rice, sesame, and similar substances, all while reciting the sacred eight-syllabled mantra ending with “svāhā.” The worship of Hari is performed with devotion on successive days: on the first day, his feet are honored with lotuses; on the second, his knees with bilva leaves; and on the third, his navel with fragrant substances. On the fifth day, his shoulders are worshipped with bilva and java flowers, and his head is adorned with mālatī blossoms. At this time, the deity is gently laid upon the ground, and cow dung is consumed in the prescribed manner. Further, on the fifth day, the devotee partakes of the five sacred products of the cow—urine, curd, and milk. On the fifteenth night, one observes a strict night-long fast, and by such discipline, the vow-holder attains both worldly enjoyment and ultimate liberation. The Ekādaśī vow is to be observed always, on both the waxing and waning fortnights. This vow is so powerful that it destroys the multitude of sins and the torments of hell, and it invariably bestows the eternal abode of Viṣṇu. Wherever Ekādaśī, Dvādaśī, and Trayodaśī occur at the end of the night, there Hari himself is always present. But wherever Daśamī and Ekādaśī are found together, there, too, reside demons and such beings. Therefore, the fast should be properly broken on Dvādaśī, and the rules of observance are to be maintained even in times of impurity or bereavement. Fasting is also prescribed on the fourteenth and first lunar days when they are mixed with the previous day, as well as on the full and new moon, and when the first day is joined with another. The same discipline applies to the second and third days when they are mixed, the third joined with the fourth, the fourth joined with the fifth, the fifth joined with the sixth, and the seventh joined with the sixth. Brahmā then spoke: “I shall now narrate the vow of Śivarātri and the story that fulfills all desires, as once Gaurī herself asked Bhūteśa about this supreme vow.” Īśvara replied: “In the dark half of the month between Māgha and Phālguna, on the fourteenth day, one should keep vigil through the night and worship Rudra. By doing so, one attains both enjoyment and liberation. When Hara is worshipped with longing, he is to be honored on Dvādaśī, as is Keśava; and when worshipped by those who have fasted, he delivers them from hell. “There once lived a sinful king named Sundarasena, a Niṣāda from Arbuda, who, accompanied by wicked men, went into the forest to hunt. After securing his prey, he was tormented by hunger and thirst upon the mountain. That night, he stayed awake in a grove by a pond. There stood a liṅga, and as he guarded his own body, he unknowingly let leaves fall on the liṅga’s head. To clear away dust, he poured water over the liṅga, and by chance, an arrow slipped from his hand. Bowing to the ground on his knees, he touched and grasped the liṅga. In this way, bathing, touching, worshipping, and keeping vigil were all accomplished, though he knew it not. “In the morning, he returned home and ate food offered by his wife. In due course, he died, and Yama’s attendants bound him and led him away. However, my own attendants defeated them in battle and released him, and together with his dog, that purified soul remained by my side. “Thus, even ignorant acts can yield merit, while acts done with knowledge yield inexhaustible merit. On the thirteenth day, one who observes vows should worship Shiva and undertake this discipline. On the morning of the fourteenth day, one should keep vigil through the night, performing worship, charity, austerity, and oblations as one is able. “On the fourteenth, one should fast, O Shambhu, and eat on the following day, seeking both enjoyment and liberation. Bathing the guru at that time with the five nectars of the cow, one should worship the righteous one with sandal and other offerings, reciting ‘Om, obeisance, obeisance to Shiva.’ Oblations of sesame, rice, and barley with ghee are to be made, and after the full offering, one should listen to songs and sacred stories. “At midnight, at the third watch, and again at the fourth, the root mantra should be recited, and in the morning, forgiveness should be sought, praying: ‘O Lord, by your grace I have observed this vow without obstacle; forgive me, O Lord of the worlds, O Hara, ruler of the three worlds! Whatever merit I have gained today, whatever has been offered to Rudra, by your grace, O Lord, I have completed the vow today. Be gracious to me, O glorious one, and return to your abode; by merely seeing you, I am purified, without doubt.’ “One should feed those devoted to meditation and give them garments, umbrellas, and such gifts, O Lord of beings, O God of gods, benefactor of the worlds. Whatever I have given with faith, may the Lord be pleased by that. Thus, having asked forgiveness, the observer of the vow should perform it for twelve years. Having obtained fame, prosperity, sons, and kingdom, one attains the Shaiva city. Throughout all twelve months, one should keep vigil here. He who feeds twelve vow-observers and gives lamps attains heaven.” The venerable Pitamaha then said: “Mandhata, the emperor, observed the Ekadashi fast; on Ekadashi, one should not eat, on either fortnight. When the tenth and eleventh days are mixed, Gandhari observed the fast, but her hundred sons were lost; therefore, one should avoid that day. Where the twelfth and eleventh days coincide, there is the presence of Hari; where the tenth and eleventh days coincide, there is the presence of the demon. When there is much conflict in opinion, doubt arises. “In such cases, the twelfth day should be accepted, and the breaking of the fast should be on the thirteenth. One should fast on Ekadashi with its proper portion, and likewise on the twelfth. Especially when the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth lunar days are combined, that auspicious tithi should be observed, for it removes all sins. After fasting on the eleventh day, a twice-born should observe the twelfth; or else, he should perform the combined three, but never when joined with the tenth day. “By keeping vigil at night, listening to the Purāṇas, worshipping Gadādhara, and fasting on both eleventh days, Rukmāṅgada attained liberation, and so did others who observed the Ekādaśī vow.” Brahmā then declared: “I will now reveal the worship by which the world attained the supreme state, that worship which grants both enjoyment and liberation.