Listen now to the sacred account of virtuous vows, each shining with its own radiance, as revealed in the revered scripture. For four months beginning with the month of Chaitra, a devoted soul should offer water to those who request it. At the completion of this vow, it is fitting to give a precious jewel along with nourishing food and garments. Such generosity brings blessings in this world and beyond. There is a vow called the Vow of Bliss: one fills a vessel with sesame seeds and gold, and this offering is honored in the world of Brahma. At the end of the cosmic age, the one who performs this vow is destined to become a king. Another vow prescribes that, for a year, one bathes the Lord with the five sacred nectars. At the end of the year, a cow is offered, also anointed with these nectars. Such devotion is rewarded with great merit. To attain the state of Shiva, one gives a conch to a Brahmin. This vow, known as the Vow of Steadfastness, ensures that at the end of the age, the performer becomes a king. The Vow of Non-Violence is observed by abstaining from meat for a year and, at its end, giving a cow or a golden deer. This brings the same fruit as the mighty Ashvamedha sacrifice, and ensures royal birth at the end of the age. In the month of Magha, after bathing at dawn, one worships with one’s spouse, offers food as able, and adorns themselves with garlands, garments, and ornaments. This is the Sun Vow, granting residence in the world of the Sun for a kalpa. During the four months starting with Ashadha, one bathes each morning and feeds Brahmins, and in Karttika, gives a cow. This is the auspicious Vishnu Vow, leading to the abode of Vishnu. Another vow calls for abstaining from flowers and ghee from one solstice to the next. At the end, garlands of flowers and a cow that yields ghee are given. By offering rice pudding with ghee to a Brahmin, one attains the abode of Shiva. This is the Character Vow, bestowing virtue and health. One who gives lamps at twilight and abstains from oil for a year should, at the end, donate a lamp set in a golden wheel and a pair of garments to a Brahmin. This is the Radiance Vow, granting brilliance here and the realm of Rudra hereafter. Beginning on the third day from Karttika, one consumes barley soaked in cow’s urine and fasts nightly for a year. At the year’s end, a cow is given. This is the Rudra Vow, always auspicious, granting residence in Gauri’s world for a kalpa, and then kingship. In Chaitra, by avoiding fragrant ointments and then gifting a shell filled with fragrance and white garments to a Brahmin, one attains the realm of Varuna. This is another Steadfast Vow. During Vaishakha, abstaining from flowers and salt, and then giving a cow, leads to the abode of Vishnu for a kalpa, and then to royal birth. This is the Beauty Vow, which brings beauty and fame. A golden cosmic egg filled with sesame seeds is fashioned, and for three days, sesame is offered to fire and a worthy Brahmin. After honoring a Brahmin couple with garlands, garments, ornaments, and at least three palas of gold, one prays for the pleasure of the Soul of the Universe. On an auspicious day, this is given, and the performer attains the Supreme Brahman, never to be born again. This is the Brahma Vow, which bestows liberation. Whoever gives a cow with two calves, adorned with gold, and observes a milk vow for a day, attains the highest state. This is the Cow Vow, making rebirth rare. After observing the milk vow for three days, one offers a golden wish-fulfilling tree with at least a pala of gold and rice as able. This is the Wish-Fulfilling Vow, leading to the state of Brahman. By fasting for a month and then giving a beautiful cow to a Brahmin, one attains the abode of Vishnu. This is the Bhima Vow. Giving, with at least twenty palas of gold, a golden earth after a day’s milk vow, one is honored in Rudra’s realm for seven hundred kalpas. This is the Earth Vow. In Magha or Chaitra, by giving a cow and jaggery and observing the Jaggery Vow on the third day, one is honored in Gauri’s world and attains supreme bliss. Fasting for a fortnight and then giving two tawny cows to a Brahmin brings one to the world of Brahma, revered by gods, demons, and sages, and, at the end of the age, kingship. This is the Prabhav Vow. Eating only once a day for a year and then giving a pot of food and water ensures residence in Shiva’s world for a kalpa. This is the Prapti Vow. Eating only at night on the eighth days and giving a cow at year’s end grants the city of Indra. This is the Sugati Vow. Giving fuel to a Brahmin during the four seasons, and at the end offering a cow with ghee, leads to the supreme Brahman and destroys all sins. This is the Vaishvanara Vow. Eating only at night on the eleventh day and offering a golden disc at year’s end brings one to Vishnu’s abode and, at the end of the age, royal status. This is the Krishna Vow. Eating rice pudding and then giving a pair of cows to a Brahmin leads to the world of Lakshmi. This is the Devi Vow. On the seventh day, eating only at night and then giving a milking cow grants the world of the Sun. This is the Bhanu Vow. On the fourth day, eating only at night and then giving a golden elephant brings the fruit of the Vinayaka Vow, granting the world of Shiva. Renouncing great fruits and instead giving golden fruits with a pair of cows to a Brahmin during the four months in Karttika brings the fruit of the Phala Vow, granting the world of Vishnu. Fasting on the seventh day and then giving a golden lotus and cows with golden pots to a Brahmin brings the fruit of the Saura Vow, granting the world of the Sun. Whoever completes twelve Dvadashi fasts and worships Brahmins with cow garments and golden girdles as able attains the supreme abode. This is the Vishnu Vow. On Karttiki, after releasing a bull and observing a night fast, one attains the abode of Shiva. This is the Varsha Vow. At the end of the Kricchra vow, giving a cow and food to Brahmins as able grants the abode of Shankara. This is the Prajapatya Vow. On the fourteenth day, eating only at night and then giving a herd of cows leads to Shiva’s abode. This is the Traiyambaka Vow. Fasting for seven nights and giving a pot of ghee to a Brahmin grants the fruit of the Ghee Vow, leading to the world of Brahma. Sleeping under the open sky during the rainy season and then giving a milking cow ensures eternal residence in Indra’s world. This is the Indra Vow. Eating food not cooked by fire on the third day and then giving a cow leads to Shiva and rare return to this world. This is the Shreyo Vow, which brings joy to all. Thus, these sacred vows, when observed with faith and devotion, lead the soul along shining paths to blessed realms, liberation, and royal birth, showering blessings upon the world and upon the performer, now and forevermore.