ವಸಿಷ್ಠರು, ನಗರಗಳನ್ನು ಜಯಿಸಿದವರು, ಕುಬೇರನು ಮತ್ತು ಇಂದ್ರನು—all performed a sacred rite, the mere praise of which destroys all sins without doubt. Now, let me narrate about the ಕೃಷ್ಣಾಷ್ಟಮಿ ವ್ರತ, which eradicates all sins, bestows peace, liberation, and especially victory to mankind. During ಮಾರ್ಗಶೀರ್ಷ month, one should worship ಶಂಕರ; in ಪೌಷ, honor ಶಂಭು; in ಮಾಘ, revere ಮಹೇಶ್ವರ; and in ಫಾಲ್ಗುಣ, adore ಮಹಾದೇವ. In ಚೈತ್ರ, one should worship ಸ್ಥಾಣು; likewise, honor ಶಿವ in ವೈಶಾಖ; in ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ, worship ಪಶುಪತಿ; and in ಆಶಾಢ, pay respects to ಉಗ್ರ. In ಶ್ರಾವಣ, worship ಶರ್ವ; in ನಭಸ್ಯ, honor ತ್ರ್ಯಂಬಕ; in ಆಶ್ವಯುಜ, revere ಹರ; and in ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ, adore ಈಶಾನ. On every ಕೃಷ್ಣಾಷ್ಟಮಿ, a devotee, after fasting for Shiva, should worship ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರನ್ನು with cows, land, gold, and garments, as per their capacity. After consuming the five products of the cow—urine, ghee, milk, sesame, barley, kusa-water, cow horn, cow dung, sirisha, arka, bilva leaves, and curd—one should worship ಶಂಕರ at night. The great sages recognize six sacred trees: ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥ, ವಟ, ಉದುಂಬರ, ಪ್ಲಕ್ಷ, ಪಲಾಶ, and ಜಂಬು. In ಮಾರ್ಗಶೀರ್ಷ and ಆಶಾಢ months, every alternate month, one should eat a single leaf used for cleaning teeth from each of these trees. Offerings should be made to the deity: arghya, a black cow with black garments, and at the conclusion, curd-rice, a canopy, a banner, and a fan. To the twice-born, gift water pots adorned with five jewels, black cows, gold, and various garments; if unable, offer at least one cow as per one’s means. One should never act deceitfully regarding wealth, for such conduct brings fault. Observing Krishna Ashtami and seven hundred and three kalpas, a man, worshipped by the gods, is honored in Shiva’s realm. A man blessed with long life, health, lineage growth, and royal association is born again and again. “O moon-crested one, tell me in detail the vow by which this is accomplished,” asked the sage. “You have asked well,” replied the Lord, “for this bestows inexhaustible merit. I shall reveal the secret known to those versed in the Puranas. This is the excellent vow called ರೋಹಿಣಿ-ಚಂದ್ರ-ಶಯನ. In this, one should worship ನಾರಾಯಣ using names of the moon. When, on a Monday, the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight occurs, or when the full moon falls on a Brahman or Kshatra nakshatra, one should bathe with pancagavya and mustard seeds. The wise should recite ‘Apyayasva’ mantra eight hundred times. Even a Shudra, with supreme devotion and avoiding heretical speech, should repeatedly offer salutations to Soma, the bestower of boons, and to Vishnu. After completing recitation, return home and worship Madhusudana with fruits and flowers, chanting Soma’s names. Bow to Soma, the peaceful one, and worship his feet as the abode of infinity, his knees and shanks, his thighs as Jalodara, and his loins as Anantabahava. Salute again and again the giver of desire and happiness; always worship Shashanka’s waist, his belly as Amritodara, and especially honor his navel. Salutations to Chandra; worship his face, honor his teeth as lords of the twice-born, revere his smile as Chandra, and his lips as beloved of night-lotuses. His nose is lord of forest herbs; brows and lotus-like eyes as Indu; hands of Shouri as dark as blue lotuses. Salute him honored in all sacrifices; ears as destroyers of demons; forehead of Indu as beloved of the ocean; hair as worthy of worship for the lord of Sushumna. Salutations to moon-headed one, Murari, Lord of all; salutations to the crowned one, beloved of the lotus, Rohini, named Lakshmi, whose beautiful form is nectar of fortune and happiness. After worshipping the goddess with fragrant flowers, offerings, incense and more, to the moon’s consort, sleep upon the ground. Upon rising, bathe and offer sacrificial food to a brahmin. In the morning, give a golden water-pot with salutations to the destroyer of sin. Taste cow’s urine, eat food without meat or salt, eight or twenty morsels mixed with milk and ghee, after fasting. After eating, listen to a history for a moment. Flowers to be offered include: kadamba, blue lotus, ketaka, jasmine, water-lily, hundred-petaled lotus, amlana, kubja, sinduvara, and again, white mallika, karavira for Vishnu, champaka for Shri, and moonflowers. Beginning with Shravana month, these flowers should be offered in order; in whichever month the vow is observed, worship Hari with those flowers. Thus, for a full year, worship as prescribed; at the end, give a bed furnished with mirror and other items. Make an image of Rohini and the moon in gold—the moon six fingers in size, Rohini four fingers. Adorn with eight pearls, cover with white cloth for the eyes, place upon a pot of milk, again with bronze vessel and rice grains, give it in the morning with mantra, accompanied by rice and sugarcane fruit. A white cow with golden face, silver hooves, cloth, vessel, and a beautiful conch should be given. Adorn a Brahmin couple with ornaments and virtues, designating them as the moon and his wife. Pray: Just as Rohini never leaves the bed of Krishna in the form of the moon, 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, O sinless one, 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 Rohini, who performs the moon-bed rite also attains its fruit, and rebirth becomes difficult for her. Whoever recites or hears the worship of Madhumathana with praise of the moon, and offers even their mind, is honored by hosts of immortals in the abode of Shauri. Thus, this sacred narrative reveals the glory of Krishna Ashtami and Rohini-Chandra-Shayana, leading to sin's destruction, peace, prosperity, and final liberation.