O king, hear now of the sacred vows and their fruits, each shining like a lamp on the path to blessed realms. There is, to begin with, the Nila vow: one who, during the four months beginning with Ashadha, refrains from bathing with oil, attains the Vaishnava abode. Such is its power, leading the soul to Vishnu’s eternal presence. Next is the vow of delight, which brings joy to all. Whoever gives dining utensils for use in sacred meals is welcomed into the abode of Hari. And in the spring season, if one avoids curd, milk, ghee, and sugarcane, and gives fine garments along with a vessel for liquids, having first worshipped a pair of Brahmins with the prayer, “May Gauri be pleased with me,” this becomes the Gauri vow, granting the world of Bhavani to the devotee. At the beginning of Pushya, on the thirteenth day, one may fast through the night and offer to a Brahmin an ashoka tree of gold, ten fingers in length, with sugar and garments, saying, “May Pradyumna be pleased.” Such a person dwells for an age in Vishnu’s city, free from sorrow. This is known as the Kama vow, the destroyer of sorrow. Again, one who, during the vow beginning with Ashadha, avoids eating fruits, and at the vow’s conclusion offers a pot filled with ghee and jaggery, and in Kartika presents gold to a Brahmin, attains the world of Rudra. This is the Shiva vow. Whoever avoids flowers during the Hemanta and Shishira seasons, and in Phalguna offers three kinds of flowers and as much gold as possible at the two daily junctures, pleases both Shiva and Keshava. Having given thus, such a soul reaches the supreme abode; this is called the Saumya vow. From Phalguna onwards, one who, on the third day, avoids salt, and at the year’s end gives a bed and a house furnished with utensils, worshipping a pair of Brahmins with the prayer, “May Bhavani be pleased,” dwells for an age in the world of Gauri. This is the Saubhagya vow. Observing silence at twilight, if one, at the end of the year, offers a pot of ghee, a pair of garments, sesame, and a bell to a Brahmin, he attains the Sarasvata world, rarely left behind. This is the Sarasvata rite, bestowing knowledge of forms. On the fifth day, after worshipping Lakshmi, one should fast, and at the conclusion, give a golden lotus and a cow. Then he attains the abode of Vishnu, and Lakshmi abides with him in every birth. This is the Lakshmi vow, destroyer of sorrow and grief. Having performed anointings before Shambhu and Keshava, for a year one should again give a cow and a water pot. Such a devotee becomes a king for ten thousand births, and then reaches Shiva’s city. This is the Ayu-vrata, the vow of longevity, granting all desires. With a focused mind, one should bow to the Ashvattha tree, the Sun, and the Ganga, eating only once a day for a year, free from envy. At the vow’s end, worship a pair of Brahmins with three cows, and give a golden tree. Thus, one obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. This is the Kirti-vrata, bestower of prosperity and fame. Bathing Shambhu or Keshava with ghee, making a circle of cow dung, unbroken rice, and flowers, at the conclusion one should give a golden lotus with a sesame-cow and a trident eight fingers long. Thus, he is honored in Shiva’s world. The vow called Sama, performed with the singing of Sama hymns, is observed by eating once on the ninth day, and honoring girls as one is able. After feeding them equally, golden garments and a golden lion are given to Brahmins. By this, one attains the abode of Shiva and for a hundred million births is handsome and undefeated. This is the Vira-vrata, which brings happiness to men. With compassion, during the four months beginning with Chaitra, one should give a handful of food, and at the end, a jewel with food and clothing. A vessel of sesame and gold is also given, and the giver is honored in Brahma’s world at the end of the kalpa. This is the Bhutijanana-mananda vow. One who bathes the Lord for a year with the five nectars, and at the end gives a cow endowed with the five nectars, and a conch to a Brahmin, attains Shiva’s abode and becomes a king at the end of the kalpa. This is the Dhriti-vrata. Abstaining from meat, at the end of the vow, one should give a cow and a golden deer, obtaining the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. This is the vow of non-violence, which leads to kingship at the end of the kalpa. Rising early, having bathed, one should worship the divine couple, and after feeding as able, with garlands, garments, and ornaments, one dwells in the world of the Sun for a kalpa. This is the Sun vow. From Ashadha for four months, bathing in the morning and giving food to a Brahmin, in Kartiki one becomes a giver of cows and attains the state of Vishnu. This is the Vishnu vow. Until the solstice, if one avoids flowers and clarified butter, and at the end gives flowers, food, a cow with ghee, and rice cooked in milk with ghee to a Brahmin, one attains the state of Shiva. This is the Character vow, bestowing virtue and health. Whoever observes the milk vow on the fifteenth day for a year, and at the end performs a shraddha, giving five milk-yielding cows, tawny garments, and water jars, attains the world of Vishnu and delivers a hundred ancestors. At the end of a kalpa, this is known as the Ancestor vow. Finally, whoever offers the evening lamp with ghee, avoiding oil, finds favor in the eyes of the divine. Thus are these vows, O king, each a bridge to blessedness, each a garland of merit, leading the soul ever upward to the realms of the gods.