Hear now the sacred account as revealed in the scriptures. The ninth manifestation is fierce and intense, radiant like a middling fire. Its form is yellow, swift, dark, blue, smoky, and shining, with tawny and pale hues as well as a pressed green aspect. This form is known as 'mahiṣa,' and its shape resembles the tip of a sword, with a protruding jaw and a clenched fist. When the devotee recites the ten-syllable mantra, he becomes unbound by any force. Then, taking a sword of five or fifteen fingers in length, or a trident, he should perform the prescribed sacrifice. Alternatively, he may worship the emblem, the sandals, or even conduct the worship in water. The devotee must protect the various forms of worship and fast on the eighth day. For five years, he is to offer a buffalo or a goat, slaying it at the end of the night as part of the rite. According to tradition, the blood and other products arising from Kali are to be offered: in the southwest to Pūtanā, in the northwest to the evil Rākṣasī, in the northeast to Carakī, and in the southeast to Vidārikā. Brahma then spoke, describing the great Kauśika mantra, which yields immense fruit. The mantra is: “Om, obeisance to Mahākauśikā! Om hūṃ hūṃ, shine forth, lala lala, kulva kulva, culva culva, khalla khalla, mulva mulva, gulva gulva, tulva pulla pulla, dhalva dhulva, dhuma dhuma, dhamadhama, slay, slay, burn, burn, command, command, tear, tear, tremble, tremble, shake, shake, fill, fill, possess, possess, om hrīṃ om hrīṃ haṃ vaṃ vaṃ huṃ taṭataṭa madamada hrīṃ om hūṃ, obeisance to Nairṛtā!” This mantra is to be offered to Nirṛti, and the offering should be consecrated with the Mahākauśika mantra. In the presence of the goddess, the king should bathe, set up a parasol, and prepare the sacrificial cake. After slaying with a sword, he should offer it to Skanda and Viśākha. The worship of the Mothers and goddesses should also take place at night: Brahmāṇī, Māheśī, Kaumārī, Vaiṣṇavī, Vārāhī, Māhendrī, Cāmuṇḍā, Caṇḍikā, Jayantī, Maṅgalā, Kālī, Bhadrakālī, and Kapālinī. Durgā, Kṣamā, Śivā, Dhātrī, Svāhā, and Svadhā are also to be worshipped. Maidens and women should bathe the goddess with milk and other substances. The devotee should honor both the twice-born and non-believers by giving food, adorning the celebration with banners, leaves, flags, and garments during chariot processions. On the great Navamī, this worship is performed, bestowing victory, sovereignty, and other blessings. Brahma continued: On the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Āśvina, the devotee should worship with a single meal and recite the mantra one hundred thousand times for the goddess and the brāhmaṇa. On the ninth day of the bright fortnight in Caitra, the goddess should be worshipped with dāmanaka flowers, granting long life, health, prosperity, and victory over enemies. On the tenth day, eating only once, the devotee should give ten cows at the conclusion; after giving gold in all directions, he becomes lord of the universe. On the eleventh day, worship of the sages should be performed, which brings benefit to all. At the end, the wealthy and those with sons are honored in the world of the sages. The sages to be worshipped are Marīci, Atri, Giri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and Nārada. At the beginning of Caitra, one should worship with garlands made from damana flowers. The eighth day is called Aśoka, the ninth Vīra, and the tenth Damana; likewise, the ninth and eleventh days are also so named. Brahma further described the twelfth day joined with Śravaṇa, which grants both enjoyment and liberation. The eleventh and twelfth days, when accompanied by Śravaṇa, are especially auspicious and are called Vijaya. Worship of Hari and other rites performed on this day yield inexhaustible merit, whether by a single devotee, one who fasts at night, or one who requests it. On the twelfth day, one should not eat, whether fasting or accepting alms, and must avoid pulses, meat, honey, greed, and false speech. One should abstain from exercise, sexual activity, daytime sleep, and the application of collyrium, as well as from stone-ground food and lentils. In the month of Bhādrapada, the bright twelfth day joined with Śravaṇa is called the great twelfth, and fasting on this day yields great results. Bathing at the confluence of rivers on this day, especially when joined with Budha, brings great merit. In a water-filled pot, one should worship a golden image of Vāmana, adorned with a pair of white garments, an umbrella, and a pair of shoes. The devotee should then worship the head with the mantra “Om namo Vāsudevāya,” the face for Śrīdhara, the throat for Kṛṣṇa, the chest for Śrīpati, the arms for the bearer of all weapons, the abdomen for Vyāpaka, the belly for Keśava, the genitals for the Lord of the three worlds, the thighs for the sustainer of all, and the feet for the soul of all. Ghee-rice should be offered as food, along with pots and sweets, and the devotee should keep vigil through the night. After bathing and purification, worshipping and offering flowers, the devotee should say, “Salutations to you, Govinda, wise one named Śravaṇa!” Thus, having destroyed the mass of sins and become the giver of all happiness, may the Lord of gods be pleased. Pots should be given to the Brahmins, and this worship may be performed either on the riverbank or at home to fulfill all desires. Brahma then spoke of the thirteenth day dedicated to Kāma, who should be worshipped with damana and other flowers. Adorned with jewels, Aśoka is accompanied by delight and affection. This is the vow of Madanaka Trayodaśī. On the fourteenth day and on both eighth days of the bright and dark fortnights, one who fasts for a year and worships Śiva attains liberation; this is the vow of Śiva Caturdaśī and Aṣṭamī. One who fasts for three nights and gives a house during Kārtikī attains the world of the sun; this is the auspicious vow of light. On the new moon, offerings of water and other items to the ancestors are inexhaustible. One who eats only at night, named after the days, and who worships on those days, receives all blessings. O sage among the twice-born, the twelve zodiac signs, which occur each month, should be observed, and at the end of each, one should worship Acyuta by name. In Mārgaśīrṣa, one should worship Keśava, and so on, beginning with Kṛttikā. For four months, ghee should be offered into the fire and kṛsara presented as food. At the start of Āṣāḍha, one should offer pāyasa and feed the brāhmaṇas. With fivefold offerings of water, bathing, and food, one should observe the night fast. All offerings made before the formal dismissal are considered naivedya; once the Lord of the universe is dismissed, the remainder instantly becomes nirmālya. Thus, the sacred rites and their fruits were revealed, guiding the devotee toward victory, prosperity, and liberation.