With deep reverence, I bow to Śiva and Pārvatī, whose divine forms, faces, feet, and hands encompass the whole universe, and whose gracious countenances radiate compassion. Having first offered proper worship to Śiva and Pārvatī, the devotee then prepares lotuses and blue lilies from colored powders as offerings. It is taught that when conches, discs, bracelets, svastikas, goads, and fly-whisks are shaped from these powders, and as many forms as fall to the ground, for each one the worshipper is honored in the world of Śiva for thousands of years. The ritual continues with the giving of four vessels of ghee mixed with gold—according to one’s means—to a worthy brāhmaṇa, along with a ladle and water mixed with rice. This is to be done every fortnight for four months. For the next four months, as before, the devotee should offer, on the ladle, four vessels of flour and then vessels of sesame seeds. Further offerings include sandalwood water, flower water, sandal paste, saffron water, uncurdled yogurt, milk, and water from a cow’s horn. Water mixed with flour, kuṣṭha powder, uśīra grass, and barley flour should also be presented. Sesame water is to be tasted, and fasting is observed during the months beginning with Mārgaśīrṣa, with the tasting prescribed for each fortnight. White flowers are always considered commendable for worship everywhere. At the time of giving, the following prayer is recited: “May Gaurī, remover of sin and bestower of auspiciousness, always be pleased with me. May Lalitā Bhavānī grant me good fortune and all accomplishments.” At the end of the year, the devotee gives salt, a jar of jaggery, sārjikā, sandalwood, an eye-cloth, and a golden lotus. A golden image of Umāmaheśvara, adorned with sugarcane fruits, as well as a bed covered with cotton and a pillow, is offered to a brāhmaṇa and his wife, with the words, “May Gaurī be pleased with me.” This observance is known as the third, eternal fast called Ārdrānandakari. By faithfully observing it, a person attains the supreme abode of Śambhu. In this world, the devotee enjoys constant joy, wealth, prosperity, long life, and health, free from sorrow. Whether she is a married woman, a maiden, or a widow, any woman who observes this fast receives its cherished fruits by the grace of the goddess. By performing this vow every fortnight, with knowledge of the mantras and proper worship, one reaches the realm of Rudrāṇī, from which there is rarely any return. Whoever listens to or causes others to hear this account daily is honored by the Gandharvas in Indra’s world for three ages. A woman, married or widowed, who observes this third fast that brings joy and removes all suffering, experiences hundreds of pleasures in her own home and, beloved of the goddess, ultimately attains the abode of Gaurī. Now, another third fast is revealed, one that grants all desires. Whatever is given, offered, or recited during this observance becomes inexhaustible. Those who keep the third day in the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha gain inexhaustible merit for all their good deeds. When this day coincides with the Kṛttikā star and is especially well worshipped, all acts of giving, offering, or recitation are said to yield inexhaustible results. On this day, the devotee’s lineage and merit become inexhaustible. Viṣṇu himself honors the person with unbroken rice, and thus this fast is called inexhaustible. After bathing, men offer unbroken rice to Viṣṇu, and likewise to brāhmaṇas, along with well-prepared flour cakes. As the devotee eats, he enjoys inexhaustible fruit. Even by observing just one of these third days properly, one attains the fruit of all such fasts. By worshipping Janārdana with fasting on the third day, one gains the merit of a Rājasūya sacrifice and attains the highest state. Arjuna then asks, “By what vow, O Madhusūdana, does one gain sweet speech, great fortune among people, and skill in all knowledge? How is harmony achieved between husband and wife, among relatives, and how is abundant life assured for men? Please tell me this, O Mādhava.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa replies, “You have asked well, O king. Listen to the vow of Sarasvatī, by whose recitation alone Sarasvatī is pleased. Any devoted person who undertakes this excellent vow should, at the beginning of the day, worship and honor brāhmaṇas. Or, on a Sunday, according to the positions of planets and stars, one should feed brāhmaṇas with rice pudding and have them recite the sacred texts. One should give white garments along with gold, according to one’s means, and worship the Gayatri with devotion, using white garlands and ointments. The following prayer is offered: ‘O Goddess, just as the Blessed Lord, the Grandfather of the world, would not remain after abandoning you, so may you be the granter of boons. May all the Vedas, scriptures, and arts such as singing and dancing, which are never deprived of you, likewise grant me accomplishment. Lakshmi, Medha, Dhara, Pushti, Gauri, Tushti, Prabha, and Mati—by these eight forms, protect me, O Sarasvatī.’ Having worshipped Gayatri, who holds the vina and rosary, with white flowers and unbroken rice, and who carries the water-pot and book, the knower of dharma should eat in silence in the evening and morning. On the fifth day of each fortnight, the devotee should worship the Brahma-dwelling Goddess in the same way, offering a measure of rice with ghee in a vessel, milk, and gold, saying, ‘May Gayatri be pleased.’ At twilight, one should likewise observe silence and perform this practice, not taking food in between, for thirteen months. Upon completion of the vow, one should eat food made from white rice, and beforehand, give a pair of garments and food to a brāhmaṇa. The devotee should also offer to the Goddess a canopy, a bell with white eyes, a milk-giving cow, sandalwood, a pair of garments, and again a pinnacle. Finally, one should worship the guru, the instructor, with devotion, free from miserliness, offering garments, garlands, and ointments. Thus, by faithfully observing these sacred vows and offerings, the devotee is blessed with sweet speech, prosperity, harmony, and all accomplishments, upheld by the grace of the goddess Sarasvatī.