Hear now the sacred account of the many vows and their fruits, as revealed in the Padma Purana, a treasury of dharma. One who offers a golden tree in charity attains the fruit of the great Ashvamedha sacrifice; this is the renowned Kirti-vrata, a vow that bestows prosperity and everlasting fame. With devotion, let the aspirant bathe the image of Shambhu or Keshava with pure ghee. Around the deity, he should fashion a circle from cow dung, embellishing it with unbroken rice grains and fresh flowers. At the vow’s conclusion, he presents a golden lotus and a sesame-cow, and, offering a trident eight fingers in length, he is honored in Shiva’s celestial realm. The Sāma vow is next, celebrated with the singing of Sāma hymns. On the ninth day, the devotee partakes of food only once and honors young girls according to his means. After feeding them equally, he gifts golden garments and presents a golden lion to the Brahmins. By this, he gains entry into Shiva’s abode. For a hundred million births, he remains handsome and undefeated—such is the reward of the Vira-vrata, which brings happiness to mortals. With compassion, during the four months beginning with Chaitra, he offers a handful of food daily. At the vow’s end, he gives a precious jewel, along with food and garments. He then presents a vessel of sesame and gold, and is honored in Brahma’s world; at the end of the kalpa, this is known as the Bhutijanana-mānanda vow. For a full year, the devotee bathes the Lord with the five nectars. At the year’s close, he donates a cow endowed with these nectars. Offering a conch to a Brahmin, he attains Shiva’s realm, and at kalpa’s end, becomes a king—this is the Dhriti-vrata. Observing abstinence from meat, at the vow’s conclusion, he gives a cow, and a golden deer, thereby gaining the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. This is the vow of non-violence; at the end of the kalpa, he becomes a king. Rising early, after bathing, he worships the divine couple with devotion. According to his means, he feeds guests, adorning them with garlands, garments, and ornaments. By this Sun vow, he dwells in the realm of the Sun for a kalpa. From the month of Āṣāḍha for four months, he bathes each morning, and after feeding a Brahmin, in Kārtikī he becomes a giver of cows. This Viṣṇu vow leads him to the state of Viṣṇu. Until the solstice, he avoids flowers and clarified butter; at the period’s end, he offers flowers, food, a cow with ghee, and rice cooked in milk with ghee to a Brahmin, and attains the state of Śiva. This is the Character vow, bestowing virtue and health. Whoever observes the milk vow on the fifteenth day for a year, at year’s end, performs a śrāddha and gives five milk-yielding cows, tawny garments, and water jars. Such a one attains Vishnu’s world and delivers a hundred ancestors. At the end of a kalpa, this is the Ancestor vow. Whoever offers the evening lamp with ghee, avoiding oil, at the year’s end gives a lamp, a golden discus, a golden trident, and a pair of garments to a Brahmin, and becomes radiant, attaining Rudra’s world. This is the Radiance vow. From Kārtika’s third day, the devotee partakes of cow urine and barley, observing night-fasting for a year. At the year’s end, he gives cows in charity, dwells in Gauri’s world for a kalpa, and then becomes a king on earth. This is the Rudra vow, ever bestowing auspiciousness. For four months, he avoids fragrant ointments, and then gives unbroken rice, white garments, and conch shells to a Brahmin, attaining Varuṇa’s abode. This is the Firm vow. In Vaiśākha, he avoids flowers and salt, and becomes a giver of cows. Having dwelled in Viṣṇu’s state for a kalpa, he becomes a king. This Peace vow grants fame and fulfills desires. He should craft a golden Brahmāṇḍa filled with sesame seeds, offer ghee to the sacred fire and a worthy Brahmin, and honor the Brahmin couple with garlands, garments, and ornaments. According to his means, with at least three palas in weight, he gives this on an auspicious day, saying, “May the Soul of the Universe be pleased.” In the next world, he attains Brahman and is freed from rebirth. This is the Brahma vow, bestowing liberation. Whoever gives a two-mouthed vessel filled with abundant gifts, or observes the milk vow even for a day, attains the supreme state. This is the Auspicious Vow; for such a one, rebirth is rare. Observing the milk vow for three days, he gives a golden wish-fulfilling tree and as much rice as he is able, above a pala in weight. By this, he attains Brahma’s state. This is the Terrible Vow. Whoever, after a month’s fasting, gives a beautiful cow to a Brahmin attains Vishnu’s abode—this too is the Terrible Vow. He should also give, after weighing twenty palas, the earth fashioned of gold. One who observes the milk vow for a day is honored in Rudra’s realm, gaining wealth for seven hundred aeons. In Māgha or Caitra, one who gives a jaggery-cow and performs the jaggery vow on the third day is honored in Gauri’s realm. This is the Great Vow, bestower of supreme bliss. One who fasts for a fortnight and gives two tawny cows to a Brahmin attains Brahma’s world, worshipped by gods and demons, and at the aeon’s end becomes king of all. This is the Radiant Vow. Whosoever gives firewood to a Brahmin throughout all four seasons, and at the end presents a cow yielding ghee, attains the supreme Brahman. This is the Vaiśvānara Vow, destroyer of all sins. On the eleventh day, one who eats at night and offers a wheel in charity— Thus, these vows, when observed with devotion and generosity, lead the soul to the highest realms, bestowing prosperity, fame, liberation, and the fulfillment of all desires.