Listen, as Brahmā reveals the sacred observances and the divine forms to be worshipped for fulfillment and liberation. He begins with the twelve forms of Gaṇeśa, each worthy of reverence: Gana-pūjya, Vakratunda, Ekadantī, Triyambaka, Nīlagrīva, Lambodara, Vikaṭa, and Vighnarājaka; Dhūmravarṇa, Bhālacandra, Vināyaka, Gaṇapati, and Hastimukha. The wise, whether they worship these forms individually or together, will have all their desires fulfilled, especially on the auspicious fifth day in the months of Śrāvaṇa, Āśvina, Bhādrapada, and Kārtika. Brahmā then describes the eight great Nāgas: Vāsuki, Takṣaka, Kāliya, Maṇibhadra, Airāvata, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Karkoṭaka, and Dhanañjaya. When these serpents are bathed with ghee and other offerings, they bestow long life, health, and prosperity. Alongside them, Ananta, Vāsuki, Śaṅkha, Padma, and Kambala are also honored, as well as Karkāṭaka, Nāga, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śaṅkhaka, Kāliya, Takṣaka, and Piṅgala, month by month. Brahmā instructs that the eight Nāgas should be worshipped on the dark half of Bhādrapada, for this grants liberation and heavenly rewards. Their images are to be drawn on both sides of the doorway, and in Śrāvaṇa, worship should be offered on the bright half. On the fifth day, one should worship Ananta and the great serpents, offering milk and ghee, which removes all poison. The Nāgas are depicted with hands granting fearlessness, and this fifth day is especially powerful for removing the effects of snakebite. Turning to the month of Bhādrapada, Brahmā says that Kārtikeya should be especially worshipped. All acts of bathing, giving, and similar deeds performed then become inexhaustible in their merit. On the seventh day, one should feed brāhmaṇas and worship the Sun, reciting: "Om khakholkāya, immortality, may there always be dear union, svāhā." On the eighth day, after breaking the fast with marīca, heaven is attained. On the seventh, after disciplined bathing and Sun worship, fruits are offered to brāhmaṇas with the prayer, "May Mārtaṇḍa be pleased." On this day, one may eat dates, coconut, or citron, and pray for the fruition of all desires—thus is the Phala-saptamī. After worshipping the deity on the seventh day, brāhmaṇas are fed with rice pudding, and gifts are given. Then, one may drink milk; foods to be eaten, sucked, licked, and rice are mentioned. Desires for wealth, sons, and other ambitions should be renounced, and rice avoided. Whoever eats only air conquers hunger and should observe Vijaya-saptamī. If desired, arka may be eaten on the fast day to subdue pride. Wheat, black gram, barley, rice, bronze vessels, stone-ground flour, honey, meat, wine, ointments, collyrium, and sesame are to be avoided. Whatever is desired is obtained through the seven Saptamīs. Brahmā continues, saying that in Bhādrapada, on the bright eighth day, one should fast and worship Dūrvā grass, the Sun, and Gaṇeśa, offering fruits and flowers to Śiva. With all kinds of fruits, rice, and other offerings, Śambhu is honored with the prayer, "Salutations to Śiva! You, O Dūrvā, are born of nectar; the eighth day grants all desires." Food not cooked by fire is eaten, freeing one from the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. Thus is the Dūrvāṣṭamī vow. On the Kṛṣṇa Aṣṭamī, under the Rohiṇī star at midnight, Hari is worshipped. Even if the day is joined with the seventh, this observance destroys the sins of three births. The fast is broken when the lunar day becomes visible, after worship with mantras. Bathing and worship are performed with prayers to Govinda, the embodiment of yoga and sacrifice, the lord and master of yogis and sacrifices. Govinda is saluted as the all-pervading, the lord and protector of the universe, the source of all. On a raised altar, the deity is worshipped, along with the Moon and Rohiṇī. Water in a conch, with flowers, fruits, and sandalwood, is offered. Kneeling, arghya is presented to the Moon with the invocation: "O one born from the ocean of milk! O one arisen from the eye of Atri! O lord of the Moon, together with Rohiṇī, accept this arghya from me; for Śrī, for Vasudeva, for Nanda, and for Balarāma." Arghya is also offered with fruits to Yaśodā, to Ananta, Vāmana, Śauri, Vaikuṇṭha, and Puruṣottama; to Vāsudeva, Hṛṣīkeśa, Mādhava, Madhusūdana, Varāha, Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Nṛsiṃha, and the slayer of Daityas; to Dāmodara, Padmanābha, Keśava, Garuḍa-bannered Govinda, Acyuta, the infinite, unconquered god; to Adhokṣaja, the seed of the universe and cause of creation, preservation, and destruction; to Viṣṇu, without beginning or end, lord of the three worlds, Trivikrama; to Nārāyaṇa, four-armed, bearing conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow garments and adorned with a divine garland; to the one marked with Śrīvatsa, the abode of the universe, lord of Śrī, bearer of fortune, Hari, whom Devakī bore from Vasudeva. For the protection of the earth and Brahmā, salutations are offered to the soul of Brahman. Reciting these names, prayers for deliverance follow: "Rescue me, O lord of gods, O Hari, from the ocean of worldly existence! Rescue me, O destroyer of all sins, O master, from the ocean of suffering and sorrow! O son of Devakī, lord of Śrī, O Hari, from the ocean of worldly existence! O Viṣṇu, you protect the wicked, those who remember you even once and again. I am one whose conduct is worse than the gods; save me from the ocean of sorrow, O lotus-eyed one! I am submerged in the vast sea of sacrifice and knowledge. Save me, O Lord of gods and Lord of lords! There is no protector besides you. My birth, O son of Vasudeva, is for the welfare of cows and Brahmins. For the welfare of the world, I bow again and again to Krishna, to Govinda. May there be peace, may there be auspiciousness, and may fame and sovereignty be attained." Brahmā declares that whoever fasts from food on the eighth day until the year's end and gives a cow attains the status of Indra; this is known as the vow of good destiny. On the eighth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Pausha, the vow is called the great Rudra, and when performed for Brahmā's pleasure, its fruit is a thousandfold. Whenever the eighth day falls on a Wednesday in either fortnight, this vow and its story should be observed. Thus, through worship, fasting, and offerings, the devotee attains blessings, fulfillment, liberation, and heavenly rewards, as taught by Brahmā himself.