In the presence of the goddess, two individuals—though steadfast in their vows, confessed themselves to be most sinful from birth—declined her offer of food, saying, “O beautiful-faced one, let us fast today in your auspicious company; we shall eat tomorrow.” They added, “O goddess, by your association, let not even a trace of righteousness remain in your house, for we are sinful.” Thus, through her influence, they kept vigil all night. At dawn, the goddess provided them with a bed, salt, and a mountain of food. With devotion, she gifted a village to the teacher and twelve villages to the Brahmins, along with cows adorned with gold, garments, and ornaments. Food was distributed among friends, companions, the poor, the blind, and the destitute. After honoring the greedy couple, she sent them on their way. Through the worship of Keshava with heaps of lotuses, that hunter and his wife, O king, became you. 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 four-faced Lord, Brahma, pleased by your actions, granted you a vehicle that could go wherever you wished. Therefore, O king, take refuge in Pushkara. By maintaining steadfastness for a kalpa and observing the vow of Dvadashi with prosperity, you will surely attain liberation. Having spoken these words, the sage vanished on the spot, and the king, as instructed, again performed the worship of Pushpavahana. O king, by practicing this, the vow remains unbroken; twelve Dvadashis should be observed over time. According to one’s ability, gifts should be offered to the gods and Brahmins: the best gift is a cow, the middle is land, and the lowest is gold. Gold is considered the proper gift in the least case. The first offering is for Brahma, the second for Vishnu, and the third for Rudra; these three gods are established in these gifts. Whoever recites or hears this 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. Rudra himself, the destroyer of great sins, taught that 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 vow is called the destroyer of great sins. Whoever gives a cow accompanied by a bull with single-minded devotion, or a cow made of sesame seeds, attains the abode of Shiva. This is the Rudra vow, which removes fear and sorrow. At the end of the year, whoever 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 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 along 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. At the beginning of Pushya, on the thirteenth day, whoever fasts at night and 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, which always destroys sorrow. During the vow beginning with Ashadha, whoever avoids eating fruits, and upon completing the four-month vow offers a pot filled with ghee and jaggery, and in Kartika again presents gold to a Brahmin, 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 possible at the two daily junctures, may Shiva and Keshava be pleased. Having given thus, he attains the supreme abode. This is the Saumya vow. From Phalguna onwards, on the third day, whoever avoids salt and at the end of the year gives a bed and a house furnished with utensils, worshipping a pair of Brahmins, saying, “May Bhavani be pleased,” dwells for an age in the world of Gauri. This is called the Saubhagya vow. Whoever observes silence at twilight and at the end of the year offers a pot of ghee and a pair of garments, along with sesame and a bell, to a Brahmin, attains the Sarasvata world, which is difficult to return from. This is the Sarasvata rite, bestowing knowledge of forms. After worshipping Lakshmi on the fifth day, a man should fast. At the conclusion, he should give a golden lotus together with a cow, then attains the abode of Vishnu, and Lakshmi will be with him in every birth. This is called the Lakshmi vow, which destroys sorrow and grief. Having performed the anointing before Shambhu and also before Keshava, for a year, one should again give a cow and a water pot. He becomes a king for ten thousand births and then goes to the city of Shiva. This is called the Ayu-vrata, the vow of longevity, which grants all desires. With focused mind, one should bow to the Ashvattha tree, the Sun, and the Ganga. A man should eat only once a day for a year, free from envy; at the end of the vow, he should worship a pair of Brahmins together with three cows.