Listen, O noble one, to the sacred account of the monthly vows and offerings prescribed for those devoted to Śiva, as set forth in the ancient scripture. A devotee, seeking spiritual merit, begins by offering a blue-necked bull and a cow with heartfelt devotion, following the prescribed rites. After feeding Brahmins who are learned in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, the devotee is blessed: he attains the world of the Yakṣas and becomes king among them. Continuing this observance in the month of Āśvayuja, the devotee maintains a night-fasting regimen. On the full moon, he worships Śaṅkara with ghee, feeds pure Brahmins devoted to Śiva, and again gives a blue-hued bull with a proud chest and a proper cow. By this, he reaches the world of Īśāna. In the month of Kārtika, the devotee eats only at night, worships the Lord with rice cooked in milk and clarified butter, and, on the full moon, bathes the deity, offers a cooked oblation, and feeds the Brahmins as generously as possible. He then gives a pair of Kapila cows to Brahmins, as before, and attains union with the Sun, beyond all doubt. Likewise, in Mārgaśīrṣa, the devotee eats only at night, using barley, clarified butter, milk, and other suitable offerings. On the full moon, he performs the rites for Śarva and Śambhu, feeds Brahmins and poor Veda-knowers, and gives a pair of white cows according to rule. By this, he attains the world of Soma and rejoices there with Soma himself. Throughout these monthly vows, the devotee practices nonviolence, truthfulness, abstains from stealing, maintains celibacy, forbearance, compassion, bathes thrice daily, offers oblations into the fire, sleeps on the ground, and eats only at night. Fasting is observed on both lunar fortnights and on the fourteenth and eighth days. All these practices together comprise the monthly vow of Śiva. A Brahmin who observes this for a year, whether in sequence or alternately, attains union with Śiva, and is granted knowledge and yoga. Now, hear the vow of Umā and Maheśvara, as spoken by the Lord for the welfare of men, women, and all beings. On the full moon, new moon, fourteenth, and eighth days, one should observe fasting at night for a year and worship Bhava with consecrated food. At the end of the year, a beautiful image of Umā and Maheśa, crafted from gold or silver, is to be installed according to the prescribed rite. After feeding Brahmins and giving gifts as one is able, the devotee takes the Lord to the temple of Rudra, perhaps in a chariot and with honors, presenting splendid umbrellas, fans, and ornaments. Thus, the vow is offered to Śiva, the Supreme Lord. Such a person attains union with Śiva; if a woman, she attains union with Devī. On the eighth and fourteenth days, a woman should be disciplined and celibate. For a year, a maiden or widow abstains from eating; at the year's end, she makes an image as previously described, installs it properly in the temple of Rudra, feeds Brahmins, and rejoices with Bhavānī. Any woman who observes this practice for a year, keeping the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight alone, and at the year's end makes an image by whatever means she can, after performing all the rites previously described, rejoices with Bhavānī. If she fasts on the new moon for a year, well-disciplined, she should make a trident according to the prescribed method and offer it at the year's end. After bathing the Lord, she worships him with devotion using a thousand white lotuses, gives a silver lotus and a golden earring to Bhavā and the Brahmins, and makes a proper donation. Whatever sin has been committed, even intentionally—including the gravest acts, such as the killing of a fetus—all is destroyed by the gift of the trident. There is no doubt for a woman. In this way, she attains union with Bhavānī; if a man performs it, he attains union with Rudra. On the full moon and new moon for one year, without negligence, a woman devoted to fasting—or a man—should undertake this, but only by the instruction of husbands, for women are not independent in acts of recitation, giving, and austerity. At the year's end, she should offer an image adorned with all fragrances; such a woman of good vows attains union and resemblance with Bhavānī, without doubt. Alternatively, in the month of Kārtika, a woman who observes with single-minded devotion, endowed with forgiveness and nonviolence, practicing celibacy, should give one measure of black sesame seeds, without negligence. She should offer rice cooked with ghee and sugar to the Supreme Lord and to the Brahmins, according to her capacity. On the eighth and fourteenth days, devoted to fasting, she rejoices with Bhavānī, attaining resemblance and steadfastness in her vows. Forgiveness, truth, compassion, charity, purity, and control of the senses—these are the general dharmas in all vows and in the worship of Rudra. Now, the sequence of images is declared, from the month of Mārgaśīrṣa up to the end of Kārtika. The great vow described by Nandin is in Mārgaśīrṣa; then, the excellent full-bodied bull should be offered, properly adorned, to Śiva. She then rejoices with Bhavānī, without doubt. In the month of Puṣya, she should establish and offer a trident; having performed all that was previously described, she rejoices together with Bhavānī. Thus, through the faithful observance of these sacred vows and offerings, both men and women attain the highest union with Śiva and Devī, their sins destroyed, their hearts purified, and their souls uplifted to the divine realms.