Hear now the sacred narrative as revealed in the scriptures: In ages past, the illustrious sage Vasiṣṭha, the mighty conqueror of cities, the lord of wealth Kubera, and even Indra himself performed a great rite—so powerful that the mere act of praising it destroys all sins without doubt. Now, let me declare the observance of Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī, the vow that destroys all sins and bestows peace, liberation, and, above all, victory upon those who undertake it. Each month, one should worship Śiva in his many forms: Śaṃkara in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, Śambhu in Pauṣa, Maheśvara in Māgha, Mahādeva in Phālguna, Sthāṇu in Caitra, Śiva in Vaiśākha, Paśupati in Jyeṣṭha, and Ugra in Āṣāḍha. Then, in Śrāvaṇa, worship Śarva; in Nabhasya, Tryambaka; in Āśvayuja, Hara; and in Kārttika, Īśāna. On every Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī, those who are able should honor Brāhmaṇas with gifts of cows, land, gold, and garments, having fasted as devotees of Śiva. After consuming the five products of the cow—urine, ghee, milk, curd, and dung—along with sesame, barley, kusa-water, cow horn, sirisha, arka, bilva leaves, and curd, one should worship Śaṃkara at night. The great sages have spoken of six sacred trees: asvattha, vata, udumbara, plaksha, palasha, and jambu. In the months of Mārgaśīrṣa and Āṣāḍha, one should, every other month, eat a single dantapavana leaf from each of these trees. In offerings, one should present arghya to the deity, a black cow draped in black garments, and, at the conclusion, curd-rice, a canopy, a banner, and a fan. To the twice-born, one should give water pots adorned with five jewels, black cows, gold, and various garments; and if unable, at least a single cow according to one’s means. One must never act deceitfully regarding wealth, for such conduct incurs fault. He who observes Krishna Ashtami and the seven hundred and three kalpas is worshipped by the gods and honored in Shiva’s realm. Then, a seeker asks: “Tell me, O moon-crested one, by what vow may a man be blessed with long life, health, the growth of his lineage, and royal fortune in every birth?” The blessed Lord replies, “You have asked well, for this bestows inexhaustible merit. Hear now the secret known to those versed in the Purāṇas. “There is an excellent vow called Rohiṇī-Chandra-Śayana. In this, one should worship Nārāyaṇa with names of the moon. When, on a Monday, the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight falls, or when the full moon coincides with a Brahman or Kṣatra nakṣatra, then one should bathe with pancagavya and mustard seeds, and the wise should recite ‘Apyāyasva’ eight hundred times. “Even a Śūdra, if devoted and avoiding heretical speech, should offer repeated salutations to Soma, the bestower of boons, and to Viṣṇu. After completing the recitation, he should return home and worship Madhusūdana with fruits and flowers, chanting the names of Soma. “One should bow to Soma, the peaceful one, worshipping his feet as the abode of infinity, his knees and shanks, his two thighs as Jalodara, and his loins as Anantabahava. Again and again, salutations to the giver of desire and happiness; his waist is always to be worshipped, his belly as Amritodara, and his navel especially honored. “Salutations to Chandra; his face is to be worshipped, his teeth honored as lords of the twice-born, his smile especially revered as Chandra, and his lips as beloved of the night-lotuses. The nose is to be worshipped as lord of forest herbs, the brows and lotus-like eyes as Indu, and the hands of Śauri as dark as blue lotuses. “Salutations to him honored in all sacrifices; his ears are to be worshipped as destroyers of demons, his forehead as beloved of the ocean, and his hair as worthy of worship for the lord of Sushumna. Salutations to the moon-headed one, to Murāri, the Lord of all; to the crowned one, beloved of the lotus, to Rohiṇī, named Lakṣmī, whose beautiful form is the nectar of fortune and happiness. “Having worshipped the goddess with fragrant flowers, offerings, and incense, and honoring the moon’s consort, one should sleep upon the ground. Upon rising, one should bathe and offer sacrificial food to a brāhmaṇa. In the morning, one should give, along with a golden water-pot, salutations to the destroyer of sin. Having tasted cow’s urine, and eaten food without meat or salt—eight or twenty morsels mixed with milk and ghee—one should listen to a sacred history for a moment. “The following flowers are to be offered: kadamba, blue lotus, ketaka, jasmine, water-lily, hundred-petaled lotus, amlāna, kubjā, sinduvāra, white mallikā, karavīra for Viṣṇu, campaka for Śrī, and moonflowers. In the months beginning with Śrāvaṇa, these flowers should always be offered in order; in whichever month the vow is observed, worship Hari with those flowers. “Thus, for a full year, a person should worship according to the prescribed method. At the end of the vow, one should give a bed furnished with a mirror and other items. One should make images of Rohiṇī and the moon in gold—the moon six fingers in size, Rohiṇī four fingers—adorned with eight pearls, covered with a white cloth for the eyes, placed upon a pot of milk, together with a bronze vessel and rice grains, and give it in the morning, with mantra, along with rice and sugarcane fruit. “A white cow with a golden face, fitted with silver hooves, with cloth and vessel, and a beautiful conch should also be given. Having adorned a brāhmaṇa couple with ornaments and virtues, one should designate them as the moon with his wife. “Just as Rohiṇī never leaves the bed of Kṛṣṇa in the form of the moon, so may my union with prosperity be unbroken. Just as you alone grant supreme bliss and liberation to all, may enjoyment, liberation, and devotion to you, O moon, always be mine. “For one who fears worldly existence and desires liberation, this is the supreme rite for beauty, health, and longevity. This alone is always dear to the ancestors. Having become lord of the three worlds for seven hundred cycles, one attains the lunar realm and, becoming like lightning, is freed. “A woman, or one named Rohiṇī, who performs the moon-bed rite also attains its fruit, and rebirth becomes difficult for her. Whoever recites or hears this worship of Madhumathana, with praise of the moon, and offers even the mind, is honored by hosts of immortals in the abode of Śauri.” Thus concludes the sacred account, radiant with the blessings of Śiva, Viṣṇu, and the moon, a path of merit for all who seek peace, prosperity, and liberation.