By the power of his deep austerities, the king’s beloved queen became a woman honored by thousands, known as Lāvaṇyavatī. She was cherished by the king as dearly as Pārvatī is by Bhava himself. In time, the king was blessed with ten thousand sons, each righteous and renowned as the foremost among archers. Whenever the king gazed upon his sons, wonder filled his heart again and again. One day, the revered sage Pracetas arrived—worthy of worship and honor. The king approached him with humility and asked, “O noble sage, why has such unshakable prosperity arisen for me, honored by both gods and mortals? How have I come to have a queen equal to Kamalajā herself?” The king continued, “With my modest austerity, I pleased my wife, and the creator granted me a wondrous lotus-house. Even if a hundred million kings entered it, accompanied by ministers, elephants, chariots, and crowds of people, its location would remain hidden. Not even those who travel the sky, nor the stars or the moon, whose rays do not reach it, can discern it. Therefore, what has been accomplished by birth from another womb, by dharma and other deeds, surely surpasses all people. O Pracetas, tell me everything—whether it is by me, my sons, or my virtuous wife. Seeing this change in my fortune, explain the wondrous cause and story.” Pracetas replied, “O King, listen to this marvelous tale. In a previous birth, you were born into a hunter’s family. Fierce by nature, you committed sinful acts day after day. Your body was again that of a man, yet your nature was foul-smelling, your nails and ornaments crude. You had no friends, no sons or relatives, no sisters or mother—all were under a curse. Yet, the earth herself, beautiful among hundreds of women, became highly esteemed and most desired, turning toward you. In those days, there was a terrible drought. Afflicted by hunger and unable to find wild fruits or anything to eat, you wandered in distress. Then you came upon a great lake filled with lotuses, though much of it was choked with mud. Gathering many lotuses, you made your way to the city of Vaidiśa, hoping to sell them. You wandered through the entire city, but no one would buy your lotuses. Exhausted and tormented by hunger, you and your wife were left with nothing. You both sat in the courtyard of a house, weary and empty-handed. That night, you heard auspicious sounds coming from within. Drawn by curiosity and hope, you and your wife went to see the source of those sounds. There, in the center of a circle, you beheld the image of Viṣṇu. A courtesan named Aṃgavatī was there, observing the sacred vow of the twelfth day. On the twelfth day of the month of Māgha, she had completed her vow and journeyed to Lavaṇācala. In devotion, she offered her teacher a bed adorned with fine furnishings and decorated the image of Hṛṣīkeśa with gold, performing all with great reverence. You and your wife saw her and thought, ‘What use are these lotuses to us? It is better that Viṣṇu be adorned with them.’ Thus, devotion awakened in your hearts, and together you worshipped Keśava at Lavaṇācala with the lotuses you had gathered. The bed was worshipped everywhere with heaps of flowers. Pleased with your devotion, Aṃgavatī gave you three hundred measures of grain. She also ordered that three vessels of well-cleaned metal be given to you, but out of your newfound virtue, you refused them. Again, Aṃgavatī brought four kinds of food and said, ‘Let the food be eaten, O King.’ But you and your wife declined, saying, ‘We shall eat tomorrow, O beautiful-faced one; let us fast today in your auspicious company.’ You added, ‘From birth, O goddess, we two are most sinful, though firm in our vows; by your association, let not even a trace of unrighteousness remain in your house.’ Thus, because of her, you kept vigil that night. At dawn, she gave you a bed with salt and a mountain of food. She gave a village to her teacher with devotion, twelve villages to the Brahmins, and cows adorned with gold and garments and ornaments as well. Food was shared among friends, companions, the poor, the blind, and the destitute. After honoring you and your wife, she dismissed you. O king, that hunter and his wife became you and your queen in this present life, because of your worship of Keśava with heaps of lotuses. All your sins were destroyed by that worship at the temple of Pushkara, by the power of truth and the austerity of non-greed. The Lord of the worlds, the four-faced Brahmā, being pleased, granted you a vehicle that goes wherever you desire. Therefore, O king, take refuge in Pushkara. By steadfastly observing the vow of Dvādaśī with prosperity for a kalpa, you will surely attain liberation. Having spoken thus, the sage Pracetas vanished on the spot. The king, as instructed, again performed the worship of Pushpavahana. By practicing this, the vow remains unbroken; indeed, over time, twelve Dvādaśīs should be observed. According to one’s ability, gifts should be given to the gods and Brahmins: the best gift is a cow, the next is land, and the least is gold. Even in the lowest case, gold should be given—this is considered the proper gift: the first is for Brahmā, the second for Viṣṇu, the third for Rudra. These three gods are established in these three gifts. Whoever recites or hears this story with devotion destroys the sins of people. Such a person attains wisdom and dwells in the world of the gods for as many years as there are hairs on the body. Now, I shall declare the supreme vow among vows. This vow was told by Rudra himself, the destroyer of great sins: after observing the vow of night-fasting for a year, half the merit of giving a cow accrues to a householder. One should give a golden discus and trident, along with garments, to a Brahmin; whoever performs this meritorious act rejoices in the world of Shiva. This very vow is called the destroyer of great sins. Whoever, with single-minded devotion, gives a cow accompanied by a bull, or a cow made of sesame seeds, attains the abode of Shiva. This is known as the Rudra vow, which removes fear and sorrow. And whoever, at the end of the year, gives a blue lotus made of gold, together with a vessel of sugar and a bull, while observing alternate-day fasting at night, attains great merit and liberation.