O best of sages, listen as I reveal to you the most auspicious vows, just as Nandin once recounted them to the wise son of Brahma. These sacred observances, having been heard from Vyasa, I shall now relate to you in detail. On the eighth and fourteenth days of each lunar fortnight, those who, for a full year, eat only at night and worship Shiva on these days, attain the fruits of all sacrifices and reach the supreme state. If, on festival days, one uses the bare earth as their vessel and eats, in just one day and night they earn the merit of a three-night vow. On the fifth day of both lunar months, and the first day of both fortnights, one should perform the milk-stream vow, gaining the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. Moreover, by eating only at night from the dark eighth to the dark fourteenth, one enjoys worldly pleasures and ascends to the realm of Brahma. For a full year, the one who eats only at night during each festival, remaining celibate, self-controlled, and ever-meditative on Shiva, should, at the year’s close, feed foremost Brahmins according to proper rites. Without doubt, such a devotee attains the world of Shankara. Fasting, it is said, is superior even to eating alms-food; alms-food surpasses food obtained otherwise, but eating only at night is higher still. Thus, one should sustain themselves with food taken solely at night. The gods partake of food in the forenoon, the seers at midday, the ancestors in the afternoon, and beings like the Guhyakas at twilight. Yet, eating at night excels all these times. One who eats at night should also perform fire rituals and sleep on the ground. Now, let me describe, month by month, the supreme vow of Shiva, pursued for righteousness, desire, wealth, liberation, and the purification from all sins. In the month of Puṣya, let the devotee worship and observe night-eating, ever speaking truth, controlling anger, and subsisting on rice, wheat, and cow’s milk, fasting carefully on the eighth day of both lunar fortnights. At the end of the month, on the full moon, after bathing Rudra with ghee and other offerings and worshipping him according to rite, the devotee should sleep on the ground. By giving barley and cooked rice with milk and ghee, feeding worthy Brahmins, and reciting the Śānti hymn, and by offering a tawny cow and calf to Shiva, the supreme lord, one attains well-being and reaches the excellent world of Vāhneyas. There, after enjoying vast realms, liberation is achieved. In the month of Māgha, the devotee continues, worshipping and observing night-eating with rice porridge mixed with ghee, maintaining self-control. Fasting on the fourteenth day in both lunar fortnights, on the full moon, one should offer a ghee-soaked blanket to Rudra, give a black cow and calf, worship Śaṅkara, and feed Brahmins according to their capacity. Thus, the devotee attains the southern realm and enjoys with Yama. When Phālguna arrives, night-eating is again observed, with self-control and subdued anger, eating wild millet with ghee and milk, fasting on the fourteenth and eighth days. On the full moon, after bathing and worshipping Mahādeva Śaṅkara, a tawny or copper-colored cow and calf are offered to the wielder of the trident. After feeding Brahmins, the devotee prays to the supreme lord and attains union with the moon. In Chaitra, the vow continues: worshipping Rudra, night-eating with rice mixed with milk and ghee, and, on the full moon, sleeping in a cowshed and remembering Bhava at night. After bathing Shiva and offering a white pair of cows, and feeding Brahmins, the devotee attains the realm of Nirṛti. In Vaiśākha, night-fasting is observed. On the full moon, after bathing Bhava with the five products of the cow, ghee, and the like, and offering a white pair of cows, the devotee earns the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. In Jyeṣṭha, worshipping Bhava, Lord of gods, Śarva, the consort of Umā, with faith and devotion, night-fasting continues. Red rice cooked with honey, purified with water and ghee, is offered, sitting in the heroic posture for half the night, serving cows. On the full moon, after worshipping the god of gods and bathing him as is proper, a cooked oblation is given to the wielder of the trident. After feeding Brahmins as able, a tawny pair of cows is gifted, and the devotee is honored in the world of Vāyu. In Āṣāḍha, with intent on night-fasting, cow’s milk mixed with abundant pieces of rice-cake and ghee is offered. On the full moon, after bathing and worshipping as prescribed, feeding Brahmins and learned Vedic scholars, a fair-colored pair of cows is given, and the devotee attains the world of Varuṇa. In Śrāvaṇa, worshipping the bull-bannered one with food of milk and rice, on the full moon, bathing and worshipping as prescribed, and feeding Brahmins and Vedic scholars, a pair of white-footed Pauṇḍra cows is offered. Thus, the devotee attains union with Vāyu and becomes all-pervading like the wind. When Bhādrapada arrives, night-fasting continues as before. The remnants of the sacrifice are offered to eminent Brahmins who dwell at the foot of trees by day. On the full moon, the devotee bathes and worships Śaṅkara, lord of gods. Thus, month by month, the auspicious vows and observances, devoted to Shiva, are revealed, each bringing its own sacred fruit and leading the devoted soul ever closer to the supreme state.