From the auspicious eleventh day of the bright fortnight, there is a sacred period leading up to the night of awakening. During this time, those who engage in heartfelt singing and the playing of music in devotion—just as you have done—become especially dear to me and are granted my presence. When offerings such as water for the feet, arghya, and water for sipping are made with sincerity, as you have done, they generate wondrous merit and bring happiness to the devotee. Know that all the Vedas, which were taken away by Śaṅkha, now rest in the waters. After I have vanquished the son of the ocean, I will restore them, O gods. From this day forward, the Vedas, along with their mantras and sacrificial formulas, will always reside in the water during the month of Kārtika each year. I too shall dwell in the water from now on, and I invite all of you, together with the great sages, to accompany me. At this very time, the best among the twice-born perform their morning baths, and they are purified as if they had completed all the sacred ablutions that conclude great sacrifices. Those who observe the Kārtika vow each day with proper devotion, O Śakra, will certainly attain my abode at the end of their earthly lives. By my command, you must protect these devotees from all obstacles, and you, Varuṇa, must bless them with descendants—sons, grandsons, and beyond. O Lord of Wealth, you must ensure their prosperity and increase in riches, for those who bear my form through their devotion are truly liberated even while living. This supreme vow, observed from birth to death according to the prescribed method, is to be honored by all, including yourselves. Because you awakened me on the eleventh day, this lunar day is forever dear to me and worthy of special reverence. These two vows, when properly performed, bring the presence of Kṛṣṇa; there is nothing greater. While gifts, pilgrimages, austerities, and sacrifices grant heaven, O best of gods, these vows are unique in drawing me near. Thus, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the section extolling the greatness of Kārtika, within the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā, this ninetieth chapter is known as ‘The Uplifting of the Slaying of Śaṅkhāsura.’ Now, O King, listen as I, Nārada, explain the proper method for concluding the Ūrja vow. Hear from me, in summary, the procedure to be followed. On the bright fourteenth day of Ūrja, the observer of the vow should perform the concluding ceremony, both to complete the vow and to please Viṣṇu. Above the sacred tulasī plant, an auspicious pavilion should be constructed, adorned with festoons, four gateways, flowers, and yak-tail fans. At each gate, the doorkeepers—Puṇyaśīla, Suśīla, Jaya, and Vijaya—should be fashioned from clay and worshipped individually. Around the base of the tulasī plant, a protective diagram should be drawn on all sides, beautifully decorated with four colors. Above this, a covered pot adorned with five jewels and a great fruit should be placed. Within this sacred space, one should worship the Lord of gods, who bears the conch, discus, and mace, clothed in yellow silk, together with the daughter of the ocean. The guardians of the worlds, starting with Indra, should be worshipped in a circle. On the twelfth day, awakened by the gods, the Lord is to be honored, but on the fourteenth day, when he is seen and worshipped, even greater reverence is due. On that day, one should fast with devotion, maintaining peace and a concentrated mind. With the guru’s permission, the Lord of gods—represented in gold—should be worshipped with sixteen offerings and a variety of foods. At night, a vigil should be kept, filled with auspicious singing and instrumental music. Those who sing with devotion for the wielder of the discus during this vigil are freed from the mountain of sins accumulated over hundreds of births. Singing and dancing for Viṣṇu during the vigil brings merit equal to the gift of a thousand cows. Along with singing and dancing, other festive amusements should also be performed. Whoever, before Vāsudeva, during the night of Hari’s vigil, recites the stories of Viṣṇu and delights the Vaiṣṇavas, or plays instruments and speaks spontaneously with joy, gains immense merit. Any man who performs the night vigil for Hari with such devotion earns merit each day equal to ten million pilgrimages. Then, on the full moon day, together with his wife, he should invite excellent Brāhmaṇas—thirty or more, or as many as he is able—for it was on this day, after granting boons, that Viṣṇu took the form of the Fish-incarnation. Whatever is given, offered into the fire, or recited on this day yields imperishable results. Therefore, the vow-observer should feed the Brāhmaṇas with milk-rice and other foods. With two ladles, he should offer sesame-milk-rice for the pleasure of the Lord of gods, and separately for the other deities. Gifts should be given according to his ability, and he should bow to the Brāhmaṇas. After worshipping the Lord again, the gods, and the tulasī plant, the vow-observer should properly honor a tawny cow and the guru who has instructed him in the vow, with garments, ornaments, and similar offerings. Having worshipped the guru together with his wife, he should then give him the cow, praying, “By your favor, O Lord of gods, may the Lord be pleased with me.” He should also pray, “Whatever sins I have committed in seven births, may they all be destroyed by this vow, and may my lineage be stable. May my wishes always be fulfilled through my worship; and at the end of my life, may I attain the exceedingly rare abode of Viṣṇu.” Having thus honored and satisfied the Brāhmaṇas, he should respectfully dismiss them. Then, the vow-observer should present the worship, adorned with jewels, to the guru. Finally, accompanied by friends and the guru, the devotee partakes of the food himself. Such is the prescribed procedure for the sacred observances of Kārtika or during times of austerity.