Hear now, O noble one, of the many sacred vows and their fruits, as revealed in the Purāṇa. There are vows of great merit, each with its own discipline and reward, sanctified by gifts and acts of devotion. First, there is the vow of non-violence, where one abstains from meat, and at its conclusion, offers a cow and a golden deer. Such a person gains the fruit of the great Aśvamedha sacrifice. This vow is known as the vow of non-violence, and at the end of a kalpa, the practitioner becomes a king. Rising early, bathing, and worshipping the divine couple, he fulfills his observance. After feeding others according to his means, and offering garlands, garments, and ornaments, he dwells in the world of the Sun for a kalpa. This is celebrated as the Sun vow. From the month of Āṣāḍha, for four months, one should bathe each morning. After giving food to a Brahmin, in the month of Kārtikī, he becomes a giver of cows. By this, he attains the state of Viṣṇu, and this is known as the Viṣṇu vow. Until the solstice, he must avoid flowers and clarified butter. At the end of this period, he should give flowers, food, and a cow with ghee, as well as rice cooked in milk with ghee to a Brahmin. Thus, he attains the state of Śiva. This is called the Character vow, which bestows virtue and health. Whoever observes the milk vow on the fifteenth day for a year should, at the year’s end, perform a śrāddha and give five milk-yielding cows, tawny garments, and water jars. By this, he attains the world of Viṣṇu and delivers a hundred ancestors. This is known as the Ancestor vow, and at the end of a kalpa, it brings great merit. Whoever offers the evening lamp with ghee, avoiding oil, should at the end of the year give a lamp, a discus, a golden trident, and a pair of garments to a Brahmin. Such a man becomes radiant and attains the world of Rudra. This is called the Radiance vow. From Kārtika’s third day, one should partake of cow urine and barley, observing night-fasting for a year. At the year’s end, he gives cows and dwells in the world of Gaurī for a kalpa, and then becomes a king here. This is called the Rudra vow, always bestowing auspiciousness. For four months, he should avoid fragrant ointments, and at the end, give to a Brahmin unbroken rice, white garments, and conch shells. By this, he attains the abode of Varuṇa, and this is known as the Firm vow. In the month of Vaiśākha, one should avoid flowers and salt, and then become a giver of cows. Having remained in the state of Viṣṇu for a kalpa, he becomes a king here. This is called the Peace vow, bringing fame and fulfillment of desires. One should fashion a golden Brahmāṇḍa, filled with sesame seeds, and, becoming a giver of ghee, satisfy the fire and a worthy Brahmin, honoring the Brahmin couple with garlands, garments, and ornaments. According to his means, above three palas in weight, he should give this on an auspicious day, saying, “May the Soul of the Universe be pleased.” In the next world, he attains Brahman and is not born again. This is the Brahma vow, bestowing liberation. Whoever gives a vessel with two mouths, filled with abundant things, and observes the milk vow for a day, attains the supreme state. This is the Auspicious Vow, making rebirth difficult for such a one. Having observed the milk vow for three days, one should give a golden wish-fulfilling tree and as much rice as he can, above a pala in weight. By this, he attains the state of Brahma; this is the Terrible Vow. Whoever, after fasting for a month, gives a beautiful cow to a Brahmin, attains the abode of Viṣṇu. This, too, is called the Terrible Vow. One should also give, after weighing out twenty palas, the earth made of gold. One who observes the milk vow for a day is honored in the world of Rudra, gaining wealth and merit that lasts for seven hundred aeons. In the months of Māgha or Caitra, one who gives a jaggery-cow and performs the jaggery vow on the third day is honored in the realm of Gaurī. This is the Great Vow, bestower of supreme bliss. Fasting for a fortnight and giving two tawny cows to a Brahmin leads one to the world of Brahma, worshipped by gods and demons. At the end of the aeon, he becomes king of all. This is the Radiant Vow. Whoever gives firewood to a Brahmin for all four seasons and, at the end, gives a cow yielding ghee, attains the supreme Brahman. This is called the Vaiśvānara Vow, destroyer of all sins. On the eleventh day, one who eats at night and offers a wheel, and at the end makes a golden wheel, attains the abode of Viṣṇu. This is the Kṛṣṇa Vow, granting sovereignty at the end of the aeon. At the end, one who eats rice pudding should give a pair of cows to a Brahmin, dwelling in the realm of Lakṣmī for an aeon. This is the Goddess Vow. On the seventh day, one who eats at night and gives a milking cow at the end attains the world of the Sun; this is the Bhānu Vow. On the fourth day, one who eats at night and gives gold and a pair of cows at the end performs the Vaināyaka Vow, bestower of the fruit of Śiva’s realm. Whoever, renouncing great rewards, gives golden items to a twice-born on the Kārtika day at the end of the homa, along with a pair of cows, performs the Saurav Vow, bestower of the fruit of the Sun’s realm. Whoever completes twelve fasts on the twelfth day, O king, should worship Brahmins with cows, garments, and gold as he is able. He attains the supreme state; this is the Viṣṇu Vow. On the fourteenth day, one who eats at night and gives a pair of cows at the end attains the abode of Śiva; this is the Tryambaka Vow. One who has fasted for seven nights should give a pot of ghee to a twice-born. This is the supreme vow, granting the fruit of attaining Brahma’s world. Upon reaching Kashi, one gives a milch cow and dwells in Indra’s world for an aeon. This is known as the mantra vow. Thus, O seeker, are the sacred vows, each with its discipline, offering, and reward. By observing them with devotion and charity, one attains worlds of the gods, sovereignty, radiance, supreme states, and even liberation itself.