Salutations are offered to the Lord who resides upon Maṇḍāra, the Sun, beseeching deliverance from the vast ocean of worldly existence. It is said that whoever observes the Maṇḍāra Saptamī with its proper procedure becomes freed from sin, finds happiness, and enjoys the rewards of heaven for an entire age. This observance is likened to a lamp that dispels the terrible darkness of accumulated sin, ensuring that one does not stumble in the night of worldly life. Even those who recite or hear the Maṇḍāra Saptamī, which grants the fruits of one’s desires, are cleansed of their sins. Another auspicious observance is then described: the Śubha Saptamī, which, when performed, liberates a person from the multitude of diseases and sorrows. In the holy month of Āśvayuja, one should bathe and recite prayers in purity. After inviting Brāhmaṇas to recite, the Śubha Saptamī begins. With devotion, a tawny cow is worshipped with fragrant substances, garlands, and ointments, honoring her as one born from the Sun, the abode of all worlds. She is revered for the purification of the body. The devotee then prepares a measure of sesame seeds in a copper vessel, and a golden bull, adorned with cloth, garlands, and jaggery, along with a cushion, a resting vessel, and a seat. Various kinds of fruits and foods, mixed with ghee and sweet rice, are offered at the two times of day, invoking, "May Aryaman be pleased." At dawn, Brahmins are respectfully satisfied. Every month, one should give garments, a golden bull, and a cow made of gold. At the year’s end, a bed furnished with a sugarcane staff and jaggery, a copper vessel with a prastha of sesame seeds, and a golden bull are given to a knower of the Veda, saying, "May the Soul of the Universe be pleased." In this way, the learned perform the auspicious Saptamī. For the devotee, pure fortune and fame arise in every birth; they are honored by hosts of Apsarases and Gandharvas in the abode of the gods. Such a one dwells as a lord among hosts until the dissolution of beings, and at the beginning of the kalpa, is born as the sovereign of the seven continents. The auspicious Saptamī is recited for the destruction of a thousand acts of abortion and a hundred acts of Brahmin-killing. Whoever reads, hears, or witnesses this giving, even for a moment, is freed from all sins and attains lordship among the Vidyādharas. If the Saptamī is observed for seven years with its sevenfold observance, the devotee becomes lord of the seven worlds in succession and attains the supreme abode of Murāri. Bhīṣma, eager to learn, then asks the foremost of Brahmins about those Vaiṣṇava dharmas which Rudra has spoken of, desiring to know their nature and fruit. Pulastya replies, recounting a story from the Rathantara kalpa, when the great Brahmā himself questioned Mahādeva, the wielder of Pināka, who was on Mandara. Brahmā inquired how health, prosperity, and endless liberation could be attained by men with little austerity, and what knowledge, by Mahādeva’s grace, could yield great fruit from minimal effort. Thus questioned, the Soul of the Universe, husband of Umā, spoke words pleasing to the mind. Īśvara explained that from the Rathantara kalpa, when the twentieth kalpa returns, the Varāha kalpa will arise, and in that auspicious Manvantara, during the seventh Manvantara called Vaivasvata, sustaining the seven worlds, in the twenty-seventh Dvāpara yuga, the greatly radiant Vāsudeva Janārdana will be born in three forms to relieve the earth’s burden. In that age, the sage Dvaipayana, the son of Rohini, and Kesava—slayer of Kamsa and Keshi, remover of affliction—will dwell in the city Dvaravati, formerly Kushasthali, endowed with divine splendor and the abode of the wielder of the Sharnga bow. By his command, Tvashta will construct a magnificent hall for the Lord of the world, where the radiant one will be seated, surrounded by his wives, the learned Vrishnis, many generous ones, Kurus, gods, and Gandharvas. The slayer of Kaitabha will be present. As ancient tales and stories of dharma are recounted, Bhimasena, full of prowess, will ask questions. When dharma is discussed, Bhimasena will inquire, discerning its distinctions, and will become both the questioner and the doer. The mighty son of Pandu, within whose stomach dwells the fierce fire named Vriko, the consumer of offerings, will initiate this dharma. He, steadfast in righteousness, will converse with Bhimasena, who is exceedingly fond of food, possesses the strength of ten thousand elephants, and is great in might. For those righteous ones who lack the power to endure intense austerity, this vow surpasses all others due to its excellence. Vasudeva, the soul of the universe and teacher of the world, will explain a vow that grants the fruit of all sacrifices and destroys all sins. It destroys all evil, is worshipped by all the gods, is the purest of the pure, the most auspicious among all that is auspicious, and the most ancient of all vows. Vasudeva declares: If one is unable to fast on the eighth, fourteenth, or twelfth lunar days, or on other auspicious days, then, Bhima, observe this supreme, sin-destroying lunar day with the prescribed method and attain the supreme abode of Vishnu. When the bright tenth day of the month of Magha arrives, one should anoint oneself with ghee and bathe with sesame seeds. In the same way, one should worship Vishnu, saying "Obeisance to Narayana," and, having worshipped Krishna’s feet, bow the head, declaring, "You are Krishna, the Self.