Hear now the sacred narrative as revealed by Brahma and the sages: In the holy tradition, the great goddesses are venerated—Vārāhī, Māhendrī, Cāmuṇḍā, Caṇḍikā, Jayantī, Maṅgalā, Kālī, Bhadrakālī, and Kapālinī. Alongside them are Durgā, Kṣamā, Śivā, Dhātrī, Svāhā, and Svadhā; to all these divine mothers, salutations are offered. Their worship is performed with utmost devotion: maidens and women bathe the goddess with milk and other pure substances, honoring her with loving care. During this sacred time, it is prescribed that both the twice-born and even those outside the fold are to be honored with gifts of food. The celebrations are adorned with banners, leaves, flags, and beautiful garments, especially during the processions of chariots. On the auspicious Navamī, the ninth day, this worship is performed with great fervor, bestowing victory, sovereignty, and manifold blessings upon the devotee. Brahma further instructs: On the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Āśvina, the devotee should worship the goddess and the brāhmaṇas, partaking of only a single meal, and recite the sacred mantra one hundred thousand times. In the month of Caitra, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight, the goddess is to be worshipped with fragrant dāmanaka flowers. By doing so, one attains long life, robust health, prosperity, and becomes unconquerable by enemies. On the tenth day, after fasting, the devotee should give away ten cows and distribute gold in all directions, thereby attaining lordship over the universe. The worship of the sages is to be performed on the eleventh day, which brings benefit to all; those who are wealthy and blessed with sons are honored in the world of the sages. The sages to be revered are Marīci, Atri, Giri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and Nārada. At the beginning of Caitra, garlands of damana flowers are offered in worship. The eighth day is called Aśoka, the ninth Vīra, and the tenth Damana; the ninth and eleventh days are also known by these names. Brahma continues: He describes the twelfth day joined with the Śravaṇa star, which bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation. The eleventh and twelfth days, when aligned with Śravaṇa, are especially sacred. This day is called Vijaya; any worship of Hari and related rites performed then yield inexhaustible merit, whether by a single devotee, through night fasting, or by one who requests it. On the twelfth day, the devotee should fast or subsist on alms, avoiding pulses, meat, honey, greed, and false speech. One must also abstain from exercise, sexual activity, daytime sleep, the use of collyrium, stone-ground food, and lentils. In the month of Bhādrapada, the bright twelfth day joined with Śravaṇa is called the great twelfth; fasting on this day brings immense spiritual benefit. Bathing at the confluence of rivers on this day, especially when it coincides with Budha (Mercury), brings great merit. In a water-filled pot, a golden image of Vāmana should be worshipped, adorned with a pair of white garments, an umbrella, and shoes. The devotee should worship the head of the image with the mantra "Om namo Vāsudevāya," the face for Śrīdhara, the throat for Kṛṣṇa, the chest for Śrīpati, and the arms for the bearer of all weapons. The abdomen is worshipped 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. Offerings of ghee-rice, pots, and sweets are made, and the devotee keeps vigil through the night. After bathing and purification, worship and flower offerings are performed, invoking: "Salutations to you, Govinda, wise one named Śravaṇa!" The devotee prays for the destruction of sins and the granting of happiness, seeking the Lord’s favor. Pots are given to the brāhmaṇas, and whether on a riverbank or at home, such worship fulfills all desires. On the thirteenth day dedicated to Kāma, the god of love is worshipped with damana and other flowers, adorned with jewels, and 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, worshipping Śiva, attains liberation—this is the vow of Śiva Caturdaśī and Aṣṭamī. One who fasts for three nights and donates 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 and worships according to the lunar days receives all blessings. O sage among the twice-born! Each month, as the twelve zodiac signs pass, one should worship Acyuta by name at the end of each sign. In Mārgaśīrṣa, Keśava is worshipped, beginning with Kṛttikā; for four months, ghee is offered into the fire and kṛsara is presented as food. At the start of Āṣāḍha, pāyasa is offered and brāhmaṇas are fed. With fivefold offerings of water, bathing, and food, the night fast is observed. All offerings made before the dismissal of the Lord are considered naivedya; once the Lord of the universe is dismissed, the remainder becomes nirmālya. The foremost knowers of the Pāñcarātra partake of the naivedya. Thus, at the end of the year, one should worship with special devotion. With heartfelt prayers, the devotee addresses Acyuta: "Salutations to you! May my sins be destroyed, my merit ever increase, my wealth and prosperity never diminish, and my lineage remain unbroken. Just as you, O Acyuta, are beyond the beyond, the very essence of Brahman, so too, O immeasurable one, remover of sins, always fulfill my desires as I have worshipped you. Acyuta! Ananta! Govinda! Be gracious—grant whatever is desired, O Supreme Person!" A man who observes for seven years, fasting on Ekādaśī, Aṣṭamī, and Caturdaśī, attains long life, prosperity, and the highest state. On the seventh day, Viṣṇu, Durgā, Śambhu, and the Sun are worshipped in order, and the devotee attains their realms, all pure desires, and purity. By worshipping all the deities with single-minded devotion, fasting at night, eating food obtained by alms, or with simple vegetables, one is blessed. Whoever observes all these fasts on all lunar days attains both enjoyment and liberation. On the first day, Kubera, Agni, and the Aśvins are worshipped; on the second, Lakṣmī and Yama; on the fifth, Pārvatī and Śrī; on the sixth, the Nāgas; on the seventh, Kārttikeya and the Sun, bestower of wealth. On Durgāṣṭamī, Durgā and the Mothers are venerated; on the ninth, Takṣaka; on the tenth, Indra; and on the eleventh, Kubera and the great sages. Thus, by following these sacred observances and honoring the deities and sages as prescribed, the devotee attains all blessings—victory, prosperity, fulfillment of desires, and, ultimately, liberation.