With reverence and devotion, the ritual unfolds. Sandalwood, aguru, and camphor are offered, accompanied by kṛsara, as the devotee remembers and repeatedly invokes the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Gourds, coconuts, or vessels filled with seeds are brought forth, and if none of these are available, suitable areca nuts are used. According to the prescribed rite, arghya is offered after worshipping Janārdana, the Lord. The devotee prays, “O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, compassionate one, be the refuge of those who have none; O Supreme Person, have mercy on those immersed in the ocean of worldly existence.” With folded hands, he offers salutations: “Salutations to you, O lotus-eyed one; creator of the universe; O Subrahmaṇya, ancient great person; accept the arghya offered by me together with Lakṣmī, O Lord of the world.” Thus the arghya-mantra is recited. Afterwards, a brāhmaṇa is worshipped and presented with a water-pot, umbrella, sandals, and cloth, with the prayer, “May Kṛṣṇa be pleased with me.” According to one’s ability, a black cow is given to the best of the twice-born. A discerning person gives a vessel filled with sesame seeds. For bathing and consumption, black sesame seeds are best, and these are offered with care to the brāhmaṇas. As many sesame seeds as have sprouted are given to kṣatriyas. For as many thousands of years as the number of sesame seeds given for bathing, anointing, fire offering, and water offering, so long is one honored in heaven. Whoever gives, consumes, bathes with, anoints with, offers in fire, and offers water with sesame—these six uses of sesame destroy sin. Nārada then asks, “O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, mighty-armed, salutations to you, creator of the universe. What is the result of observing the Ṣaṭ-tilā Ekādaśī? Tell me, with its story, if you are pleased, O descendant of Yadu.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa replies, “Hear, O king, as it happened; I will tell you what I saw. Long ago, on earth, there was a brāhmaṇī, O Nārada, always devoted to vows and ever intent on worshipping the gods. She was always engaged in monthly fasts, ever devoted to me, always observing Kṛṣṇa-fasts, and wholly dedicated to my worship. Her body was afflicted by austerities, O best of brāhmaṇas, through her devotion to the gods, brāhmaṇas, and maidens. She constantly gave away household goods, always devoted to severe austerities at all times. But she did not give alms to beggars, nor did she satisfy the brāhmaṇas. After a long time, I reflected: surely her body has become pure through severe vows and austerities, without doubt. The world of Viṣṇu has indeed been worshipped by her through bodily hardship; but she did not give the gift of food, by which supreme satisfaction is attained. Knowing this, O Brahmin, I came to the mortal world, assuming the form of a skull-bearer, and begged with a mendicant’s bowl. She asked me, ‘Why have you come, O Brahmin? Where are you going? Tell me before me.’ Again I said to her, ‘Give alms, O beautiful one.’ Overcome by great anger, she threw a lump of clay into the copper vessel; and while this happened, O Brahmin, I returned again to heaven. Then, after a long time, that ascetic woman of great vows, by the power of her observances, ascended to heaven in her own body. By giving the lump of clay, she obtained a delightful house, but it was devoid of any heap of grain. As long as she looked around the house, she saw nothing there; so she left the house and came to me. Overcome by great anger, she spoke these words: ‘Through many vows, severe austerities, and numerous fasts performed by me, the Lord, protector of all worlds, has been worshipped and propitiated; yet nothing is seen in my house, O Janārdana.’ I said to her, ‘Go to your house, O great-vowed one; many, filled with curiosity, will soon come to you. The wives of the gods will come to see you, filled with wonder; do not open the door without reciting the merit of the Ṣaṭtilā vow.’ Thus addressed, she went as a human woman; meanwhile, the wives of the gods arrived. They said to her, ‘We have come together to see you; open the door now, O beautiful one, so we may behold you.’ The human woman replied, ‘If you truly wish to see me, you must especially speak the merit of the Ṣaṭtilā vow as the reason for opening the door.’ One of them spoke about the Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī vow; another described it, and thus I, as a human, was to be seen. After opening the door, the human woman was seen by them; she was neither a goddess, nor a gandharvī, nor an asura woman, nor a serpent-woman. Never before had such a woman been seen, O best of Brahmins. By the instruction of the goddesses, the Ṣaṭtilā vow was performed. By truthfulness in her vows, that woman attained, in a moment, beauty and radiance, and the fruits of enjoyment and liberation. Through the power of offering sesame, she obtained wealth, grain, garments, gold, silver, and a home filled with all prosperity. Endowed with beauty and radiance, she became so in an instant. One should not be excessively greedy, nor resort to deceit for wealth; one should give sesame and garments according to one’s means. In this way, a person attains health in every birth; there is no poverty, no suffering, and no misfortune. By observing the sixfold sesame vow in this manner, there is no doubt that the giver of sesame attains this result. A person is freed from all sins without effort; giving, according to rule, to a worthy recipient destroys all sins. There is no harm, nor any strain on the body. Thus, O best of twice-born, the greatness and fruit of the Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī is revealed. And so, after hearing the greatness of Vijayā and its fruits, Kṛṣṇa asks, “Now tell me the name of that which occurs in the bright half of Phālguna.