In days gone by, you wandered through the entire city, seeking someone who would buy your lotuses. Despite your efforts, not a single buyer could be found, and you became exhausted, tormented by hunger and left with nothing. In your distress, you sat together with your wife in the courtyard of a house. As night fell, you heard auspicious sounds emanating from within. Curious and hopeful, you and your wife went toward the source of those sounds. There, at the very center of the gathering, you beheld the image of Viṣṇu. The occasion was a sacred one: a courtesan named Aṃgavatī was observing the vow of the twelfth day, the Dvādaśī. Having completed this vow on the twelfth day of the month of Māgha, she had journeyed to Lavaṇācala. Aṃgavatī offered her teacher a bed adorned with fine furnishings. With great reverence, she decorated Hṛṣīkeśa, the Lord, with gold. You and your wife saw her devotion and reflected, “What use are these lotuses to us? It is better that Viṣṇu be adorned.” Thus, a deep devotion awakened within your hearts. Together, you worshipped Keśava at Lavaṇācala, offering your lotuses. The bed was worshipped everywhere with heaps of flowers. Pleased with your offering, Aṃgavatī gave you three hundred measures of grain. She then ordered three vessels of well-cleaned metal to be given, but you did not accept them, relying instead on your commitment to virtue. Again, Aṃgavatī brought four kinds of food and said, “Let the food be eaten, O King.” Yet you refused, replying, “We shall eat tomorrow, O beautiful-faced one; let us fast today in your company, which brings auspiciousness.” You confessed, “From birth, O goddess, we two are most sinful, though firm in our vows; by your association, let even a trace of righteousness not 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. A village was given to her teacher with devotion, and twelve villages to the Brahmins, along with cows adorned with gold, garments, and ornaments. Food was shared with friends, companions, the poor, the blind, and the destitute. After honoring you and your wife, who were known for your greed, you were dismissed. Through the worship of Keśava with heaps of lotuses, that hunter and his wife became you, O king of men. All your sins were destroyed by the worship at the temple of Pushkara, through the power of truth and the austerity of non-greed. The Lord of the worlds, the four-faced Brahma, being pleased, granted you a vehicle that could go wherever you desired. 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 vanished from sight, and you, O king, followed his instructions and again performed the worship of Pushpavahana. O king, by practicing this, the vow remains unbroken. Over time, twelve Dvādaśīs should be observed. According to one’s ability, gifts should be given to the gods and Brahmins: cows in the best case, land in the middle, and gold in the lowest. In the least case, gold is considered the proper gift. The first is for Brahma, the second for Viṣṇu, and the third for Rudra; these three gods are established in these three gifts. Whoever recites or hears this with devotion destroys the sins of people, 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, a householder gains half the merit of giving a cow. One should give a golden discus and trident, along with garments, to a Brahmin; whoever performs this rejoices in the world of Shiva. This 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 the Rudra vow, which removes fear and sorrow. 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 the Vaishnava abode. This is known as the Nila vow. During the four months beginning with Ashadha, one should avoid oil-bathing. Whoever gives dining utensils goes to the abode of Hari. This is called the vow of delight, which brings joy to people. Whoever, avoiding curd, milk, ghee, and sugarcane in spring, gives fine garments together with a vessel for liquids, and worships a pair of Brahmins saying, “May Gauri be pleased with me,” performs the Gauri vow, which grants the world of Bhavani. Whoever, at the beginning of Pushya, on the thirteenth day, having fasted at night, gives an ashoka tree of gold, ten fingers in length, with sugar to a Brahmin, along with garments, saying, “May Pradyumna be pleased,” dwells for an age in Vishnu’s city and becomes free from sorrow. This is called the Kama vow, always destroying sorrow. Whoever, during the vow beginning with Ashadha, avoids eating fruits, and when the four-month vow is completed, offers a pot filled with ghee and jaggery, and again presents gold to a Brahmin in Kartika, attains the world of Rudra. This is known as the Shiva vow. Whoever avoids flowers during Hemanta and Shishira, and in Phalguna gives three kinds of flowers and as much gold as he is able, at the two daily junctures, may Shiva and Keshava be pleased. Thus, O king, the story and the sacred vows are revealed, each with its power to destroy sin and grant auspiciousness, wisdom, and joy.