With a heart full of devotion, one should place the sacred lamp upon a copper vessel, accompanied by a pot of ghee, and present it to a worthy brahmin. As this offering is made, the giver is to meditate upon the supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, reciting the prescribed mantra: “In this world, shrouded by the darkness of ignorance, you are the destroyer of sin, the bestower of knowledge, and the giver of liberation; therefore, O sinless one, I offer this to you.” This is known as the lamp-mantra. With sincerity and as per his means, the devotee should then offer gifts to the brahmin, and afterwards, with loving hospitality, serve the brahmins with ghee, rice pudding, and refreshing drinks. Following this, the devotee should honor the brahmin and his wife by presenting them with garments, a bed complete with its furnishings, and a cow along with its calf. Further gifts may be given according to one’s ability, and friends, relatives, and kinsmen should also be fed and honored. At the conclusion of the lamp vow, a great festival should be held. Then, after offering respectful salutations, the devotee should humbly dismiss the guests and request their forgiveness for any shortcomings. The merit obtained by performing this sacred act, along with the fruits of solstitial observances, is gained through the year-long vow of offering a lamp. The results of monthly vows, of countless acts of charity, and of the most austere practices of yoga are all encompassed in the merit of this year-long lamp vow. What a learned person achieves by giving cows, land, or gold—especially household gifts—is also attained by one who offers a lamp. The giver of a lamp attains radiance, inexhaustible wealth, true knowledge, and supreme happiness. Such a person receives good fortune, boundless and pure learning, excellent health, and the highest prosperity—without doubt. The one who gives a lamp is blessed with a virtuous wife, sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, ensuring an unbroken lineage. For a brahmin, this vow brings supreme knowledge; for a kṣatriya, the highest sovereignty; for a vaiśya, all wealth and cattle; and for a śūdra, happiness. A maiden who observes the vow gains a husband of auspicious qualities, long life, and many sons and grandsons. A young woman who offers a lamp is protected from widowhood and never suffers separation from her beloved. From the offering of lamps, diseases and afflictions do not arise; the fearful are freed from fear, and the bound are released from bondage. One who is devoted to the lamp vow is freed from even the gravest sins, such as the slaying of a brahmin—this is the word of Brahma, and there is no doubt. The merit of the Cāndrāyaṇa and Kṛcchra penances accrues to one who maintains a lamp for a year as an eternal offering to Hari. Truly blessed and great-souled are those who, worshipping Hari with devotion, keep a lamp burning for a year; by them, the true purpose of birth is fulfilled. Even those who merely witness the preparation of the lamp-wick attain the supreme abode, which is difficult for even the gods to reach. Those who, to the best of their ability, continually provide oil and wicks for the lamp attain the highest state. When a lamp is going out, no one can awaken it, yet even those from other worlds who see this partake of its merit. Even one who, having begged a little oil for the lamp, makes a lamp for Viṣṇu gains great merit. The lowliest person, who with joined palms sees a lamp being kindled for Viṣṇu, attains the world of Viṣṇu. Whoever, by intent or action, kindles a lamp is freed from all sins and reaches the world of Viṣṇu. There is an ancient legend, the mere hearing of which frees one from all sins. On the beautiful banks of the Sarasvatī river stood the hermitage of Siddhāśrama. There lived a brahmin named Kapila, learned in the Vedas. Though poor and sustaining his family by alms, he was steadfast in his vows and fasts, and was a Śrotriya—a knower of sacred lore. By means of vows and fasts, Kapila worshipped Viṣṇu. Having properly worshipped the Lord, he always kindled a lamp in devotion. Bringing oil to his home, he would worship Keśava and, with supreme devotion, light a lamp to please Hari. As this great-souled Kapila continued his pious life, a cat with sharp teeth began to frequent his house, preying upon the mice that came there. Day and night, the cat would sit before Nārāyaṇa, intent on catching the mice that appeared for oil or to steal the lamp’s wicks. Many mice met their end in the brahmin’s house, falling victim to the ever-watchful cat. In his deep meditation, Kapila was unaware of the cat’s actions, as it continued to consume the mice. After some time had passed, on the day of Ekādaśī, the tawny brahmin, pure in his home, observed a fast together with his wife and worshipped Achyuta. That night, he performed a vigil, singing hymns and dancing in devotion. But when midnight arrived, the twice-born Kapila was overcome by sleep and delusion. Meanwhile, the cat, with sharp teeth and swift steps, crept into the house and waited in the corner, watching the sacred offering. It saw a small mouse, accustomed to stealing the wick from the dimly burning lamp, come to drink oil. The cat leapt forward, startling the mouse, which quickly darted into its hole. In its haste, the mouse struck the wick with its foot, and the lamp blazed up brightly once more.