Wherever a ring crafted from the sacred Shalagrama stone is kept, all the spiritual merit found in the holy city of Varanasi is present in that very place. By worshipping the Shalagrama, any sin a person may have committed—even the gravest, such as the slaying of a Brahmin—is swiftly destroyed. Once, the wise sage Narada, having heard from Lord Shiva about the greatness of the tulasi plant, approached him again with reverence. “By your grace, O Lord, I have learned of tulasi’s glory. Now, please tell me about the three-night tulasi vow,” he requested. Lord Sadashiva replied, “Listen, O wise Brahmin, to this ancient vow. Simply by hearing of it, one is freed from all sins—there is no doubt. Long ago, during the Raibhya interval of a kalpa, there lived a king named Prajapati. His queen was famed for her beauty—her face radiant as the moon—and for her great chastity. She performed this very vow, which grants all desired fruits. By observing the three-night tulasi vow, she attained dharma, wealth, pleasure, and liberation. “Blessed indeed is the life of one who hears of the Tulasi vow, O Narada, especially on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kartika. The devotee, steadfast in discipline, controls the senses and sleeps on the ground for three nights, maintaining purity and restraint of mind. “Each night, after following the prescribed disciplines, the devotee sleeps near a grove of tulasi plants. At midday, after bathing in pure water from a river or lake, he offers oblations to the ancestors and the gods, as prescribed. He then fashions an image of Janardana, together with Lakshmi, in gold. “One seeking true welfare must act honestly regarding wealth. He should prepare a pair of garments, yellow or white, and perform the ritual to appease the nine planets as tradition dictates. After cooking the sacrificial offering, he performs a Vaishnava fire ritual. On the twelfth day, he carefully worships the Lord of gods. “A flawless, pure vessel is placed according to the prescribed method, adorned with five precious gems and filled with leaves and medicinal herbs. In that vessel, the image of Janardana with Lakshmi is placed and installed at the root of the tulasi plant, with mantras from the Vedas and Puranas. “The tulasi grove is sprinkled only with milk. The Lord of gods, the teacher of the world, is bathed with the five nectars. This Lord—formless yet all-formed, sustaining the order of the worlds in the cosmic waters, the eternal God who creates the universe by his power—is invoked to be gracious. “With heartfelt prayer, the devotee calls: ‘Come, O Achyuta, Lord of gods, radiant source, Lord of the world; ever destroyer of darkness, protect me from the ocean of existence.’ The Lord is bathed with the five nectars, with fragrant water, and with water from the Ganga and other sacred rivers, so that Ananta may be pleased. “Sandalwood, aloe, camphor, saffron, and other sacred ointments are offered with devotion. ‘O Lord, together with Lakshmi, please accept these,’ prays the devotee. He offers auspicious garments, saying, ‘O Narayana, rescuer from the ocean of hell, Lord of the three worlds, please accept these garments.’ The sacred thread is then given with reverence: ‘O Damodara, Supreme Person, accept this sacred thread and save me from the ocean of existence.’ “Fragrant flowers—jasmine and others—are offered with delight to the Lord of gods. Foods of all tastes, to be eaten and enjoyed, are presented to the Supreme Lord. Areca nuts, betel leaves, and camphor are also given as offerings. “Incense is offered to the Lord with devotion, using guggul mixed with ghee, and a lamp is lit with ghee. With a focused mind, the devotee prepares various kinds of lamps before Lakshmi-Narayana, in the presence of the tulasi grove. “Arghya, the sacred water offering, is presented to the Lord of gods, the wielder of the discus. On the ninth day, the best arghya is given with a coconut, especially for those desiring a son. On the tenth day, a citron is offered for the attainment of righteousness, desire, and wealth. On the eleventh day, a pomegranate is given to remove poverty. “O Narada, with seven kinds of grains in a bamboo vessel, seven kinds of fruits, and a leaf with areca nut, the offering is prepared. Having covered it with cloth, it is presented before the deity. The devotee prays: ‘O God, together with tulasi and always accompanied by a conch, accept the arghya offered by me; obeisance to you, Lord of gods.’ “Having worshipped Janardana, the Lord of gods, together with Lakshmi, the devotee then prays for the fulfillment and completion of the vow: ‘O Lord of gods, I have fasted, free from desire and anger; by this vow, you alone are my refuge. O God, whatever I have left incomplete in this vow, may all that be fulfilled by your grace, O Janardana. Obeisance to you, lotus-eyed one, who lies upon the waters; this vow has been performed by me through your favor, O Keshava. O Keshava, destroyer of ignorance, by this vow may you be gracious and bestow the vision of knowledge.’ “During the night, the devotee remains awake, singing, reading scriptures, with music and dance performed by those skilled in the arts, and with the telling of auspicious stories of merit. When the night has passed and the pure sun rises, Brahmins are invited with devotion, and a Vaishnava śrāddha is performed. “The Brahmins are fed as they desire, with rice pudding and ghee, along with betel, flowers, fragrance, and other gifts. Sacred threads, garments, garlands, and sandalwood are presented, and three married couples are honored with food, clothes, ornaments, and saffron. “In this way, O Narada, the great three-night tulasi vow is observed, bringing all blessings upon the devotee.