Listen, as I recount the sacred observances and their fruits, as described in the revered scripture. In the holy month of Āṣāḍha, if a devotee undertakes a vow, refraining for four months from cutting the nails, from eating brinjal, honey, and clarified butter, and fulfills this austerity with steadfastness, then, when the auspicious month of Kārttikī arrives, he should offer gold to a worthy Brāhmaṇa. Through this act, he gains the world of Rudra, for this is celebrated as the Śiva vow. There is another noble vow: during the Hemanta and Śiśira seasons, one who abstains from flowers, and then, in the month of Phālguni, offers three kinds of flowers and gold according to his means, at the two sacred junctions of the day, pleases both Śiva and Keśava. Having completed this gentle vow, he attains the supreme abode. Again, if one, starting from the third day of Phālguni, avoids salt, and at the end of the period gives a bed and a house furnished with all necessities, worships a pair of Brāhmaṇas with the prayer, “May Bhavānī be pleased,” he is granted residence in the world of Gaurī for an age. This is known as the vow of good fortune. There is a vow of silence observed at twilight; when it concludes, the devotee should offer a pot of ghee, a pair of garments, sesame seeds, and a bell to a Brāhmaṇa. Such a one attains the Sarasvata state, rare indeed, and is blessed with knowledge and learning—this is the Sarasvata vow. On the fifth day, after worshipping Lakṣmī and fasting, if a man gives a golden lotus and a cow, he attains the Vaishnava state, enjoying prosperity in every birth. This is the vow of prosperity, which always destroys sin. By performing anointment before Śiva and Keśava, and annually giving a cow with a water pot, one becomes a king for ten thousand births before attaining the city of Śiva. This is the vow of longevity, fulfilling all desires. If, with controlled speech, one bows to the Ashvattha tree, the Sun, and the Ganga together, and for a year takes only one meal a day, free from envy, then at the vow’s end worships two Brāhmaṇas with three cows and a golden tree, he gains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. This is the vow of fame, bestowing prosperity and renown. Bathing Śiva or Keśava with ghee, and making a circle of cow dung adorned with unbroken rice and fine flowers, at the end of the vow one should give a pure golden lotus of eight fingers’ measure and a sesame-cow. Thus, he is honored in the world of Śiva as a singer of the Sāma Veda, and the vow is known as the Sāma vow. On the ninth day, after taking a single meal and feeding maidens as able, one should give them seats and garments of golden brocade. After gifting a golden lion to a Brāhmaṇa, he attains the state of Śiva, remains handsome for a hundred million births, unconquered by foes. This is the hero’s vow, which also brings happiness to women. One who observes the milk vow on the fifteenth day for as many years as possible, and at the end performs a śrāddha and gives five milking cows and tawny garments with water pots, attains the Vaishnava world and delivers a hundred ancestors. At the end of the age, he becomes a king of kings—this is the ancestor’s vow. For four months beginning with Chaitra, by giving water to those who request it, and at the end presenting a jewel, food, and garments, along with a vessel of sesame and gold, one is honored in Brahmā’s world and is destined to be a king. This is the vow of bliss. If a devotee bathes the Lord with the five nectars for a year, and at year’s end gives a cow with the five nectars and a conch to a Brāhmaṇa, he attains the state of Śiva and, at the end of the age, kingship. This is the vow of steadfastness. He who abstains from meat and gives a cow, or a golden deer, at year’s end, gains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. This is the vow of non-violence, and at the end of the age, he becomes a king. In the month of Māgha, bathing at dawn with one’s spouse, worshipping, offering food as able, and adorning with garlands, garments, and ornaments, grants one residence in the world of the Sun for a kalpa. This is the Sun vow. For four months from Āṣāḍha, by bathing in the morning and feeding Brāhmaṇas, and in Kārttika giving a cow, one attains Viṣṇu’s abode. This is the auspicious Viṣṇu vow. From one solstice to the next, abstaining from flowers and ghee, and at the end giving garlands and a cow that yields ghee, and offering rice pudding with ghee to a Brāhmaṇa, leads one to Śiva’s abode. This is the character vow, granting virtue and health. He who gives lamps at twilight, avoids oil for a year, and at year’s end gives a lamp set in a golden wheel and a pair of garments to a Brāhmaṇa, becomes radiant and attains Rudra’s realm. This is the radiance vow. Beginning on the third day of Kārttika, by consuming barley soaked in cow’s urine and observing a nightly fast for a year, and at the end giving a cow, one dwells in Gaurī’s world for a kalpa, and then becomes a king. This is the Rudra vow, always auspicious. In Caitra, abstaining from fragrant ointments and giving a shell filled with fragrance and white garments to a Brāhmaṇa, grants the realm of Varuṇa. This is the steadfast vow. In Vaiśākha, by abstaining from flowers and salt, and then giving a cow, one dwells in Viṣṇu’s abode for a kalpa and then becomes a king. This is the beauty vow, which bestows beauty and fame. If one fashions a golden cosmic egg filled with sesame seeds, and for three days gives sesame, satisfying the fire and a worthy Brāhmaṇa, and honors a Brāhmaṇa couple with garlands, garments, ornaments, and at least three palas of gold, praying, “May the Soul of the Universe be pleased,” and gives this on an auspicious day, he attains the Supreme Brahman and is freed from rebirth. This is the Brahma vow, granting liberation. He who gives a cow with two calves, adorned with much gold, and observes a milk vow for a day, attains the highest state—this is the cow vow, making rebirth hard to obtain. Finally, by observing the milk vow for three days, and giving a golden wish-fulfilling tree of at least a pala of gold, with rice as able, one attains the state of Brahman. This is the wish-fulfilling vow. Thus, each vow, performed with faith and devotion, leads the soul to blessed realms and bestows prosperity, renown, virtue, and liberation.