समांते दीपकं दद्याच्चक्रं शूलं च कांचनम्। वस्त्रयुग्मं च विप्राय स तेजस्वी भवेन्नरः
At the end of the year, one should give a lamp, a discus, a trident of gold, and a pair of garments to a Brahmin; that man becomes radiant.
रुद्रलोकमवाप्नोति दीप्तिव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्। कार्तिकादि तृतीयायां प्राश्य गोमूत्र यावकम्
He attains the world of Rudra; this is known as the Radiance vow. From Kārtika on the third day, one should partake of cow urine and barley.
नक्तं चरेदब्दमेकमब्दान्ते गोप्रदो भवेत्। गौरीलोके वसेत्कल्पं ततो राजा भवेदिह
He should observe night-fasting for one year; at the end of the year, he becomes a giver of cows, dwells in the world of Gaurī for a kalpa, and then becomes a king here.
एतद्रुद्रव्रतं नाम सदा कल्याणकारकम्। वर्जयेच्चतुरो मासान्यस्तु गन्धानुलेपनम्
This is called the Rudra vow, always bestowing auspiciousness; for four months, one should avoid fragrant ointments.
शुक्तिगन्धाक्षतान्दद्याद्विप्राय सितवाससी। वारुणं पदमाप्नोति दृढव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
One should give to a Brahmin unbroken rice, white garments, and conch shells; he attains the abode of Varuṇa; this is known as the Firm vow.
वैशाखे पुष्पलवणं वर्जयेदथ गोप्रदः। भूत्वा विष्णुपदे कल्पं स्थित्वा राजा भवेदिह
In 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.
एतच्छान्तिव्रतं नाम कीर्तिकामफलप्रदम्। ब्रह्माण्डं काञ्चनं कृत्वा तिलराशि समन्वितम्
This is called the Peace vow, bestowing the fruits of fame and desire; one should make a golden Brahmāṇḍa filled with sesame seeds.
घृतेनान्यप्रदो भूत्वा वह्निं संतर्प्य सद्विजम्। संपूज्य विप्रदांपत्यं माल्यवस्त्रविभूषणैः
Becoming a giver of ghee and satisfying the fire and a good Brahmin, honoring the Brahmin couple with garlands, garments, and ornaments.
शक्तितस्त्रिपलादूर्ध्वं विश्वात्मा प्रीयतामिति। पुण्येऽह्नि दद्यादपरे ब्रह्म यात्यपुनर्भवम्
According to one's ability, above three palas in weight, saying 'May the Soul of the Universe be pleased,' one should give on an auspicious day; in the next world, he attains Brahman and is not born again.
एतद्ब्रह्मव्रतं नाम निर्वाणफलदं नृणाम्। यश्चोभयमुखीं दद्यात्प्रभूतसकलान्विताम्
This is called the Brahma vow, bestowing liberation upon men; whoever gives a vessel with two mouths, filled with abundant things.
दिनं पयोव्रतं तिष्ठेत्स याति परमं पदम्। एतद्वै सुव्रतं नाम पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
One who observes the milk vow for a day attains the supreme state; this is called the 'Auspicious Vow,' and rebirth is difficult for such a one.
त्र्यहं पयोव्रतः स्थित्वा काञ्चनं कल्पपादपम्। पलादूर्ध्वं यथाशक्ति तण्डुलप्रस्थसंयुतम्१०० 1.20.
Having observed the milk vow for three days, one should give a golden wish-fulfilling tree, along with as much rice as one is able, weighing above a pala.
दत्त्वा ब्रह्मपदं याति भीमव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्। मासोपवासी यो दद्याद्धेनुं विप्राय शोभनाम्
Having given this, one attains the state of Brahma; this is known as the 'Terrible Vow.' Whoever, after fasting for a month, gives a beautiful cow to a brahmin—
स वैष्णवपदं याति भीमव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्। दद्याद्विंशत्पलादूर्ध्वं महीं कृत्वा तु काञ्चनीम्
He attains the abode of Vishnu; this is known as the 'Terrible Vow.' One should give, after weighing out twenty palas, the earth made of gold.
दिनं पयोव्रतस्तिष्ठेद्रुद्रलोके महीयते। धनप्रदमिदं प्रोक्तं सप्तकल्पशतानुगम्
One who observes the milk vow for a day is honored in the world of Rudra; this is said to grant wealth and lasts for seven hundred aeons.
माघेमास्यथ चैत्रे वा गुडधेनुप्रदो भवेत्। गुडव्रतं तृतीयायां गौरीलोके महीयते
In the month of Māgha or Caitra, one who gives a jaggery-cow performs the jaggery vow on the third day and is honored in the realm of Gauri.
महाव्रतमिदं नाम परमानन्दकारकम्। पक्षोपवासी यो दद्याद्विप्राय कपिलाद्वयम्
This is called the 'Great Vow,' bestower of supreme bliss; one who fasts for a fortnight and gives two tawny cows to a brahmin—
स ब्रह्मलोकमाप्नोति देवासुरसुपूजितः। कल्पान्ते सर्वराजा स्यात्प्रभाव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
He attains the world of Brahma, worshipped by gods and demons; at the end of the aeon, he becomes king of all. This is known as the 'Radiant Vow.'
इंधनं यो ददेद्विप्रे वर्षादींश्चतुरस्त्वृतून्। घृतधेनुप्रदोंते च स परं ब्रह्म गच्छति
Whoever gives firewood to a brahmin for all four seasons, and at the end gives a cow yielding ghee, he attains the supreme Brahman.
वैश्वानरव्रतं नाम सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्। एकादश्यां तु नक्ताशी यश्चक्रं विनिवेदयेत्
This is called the 'Vaiśvānara Vow,' destroyer of all sins; on the eleventh day, one who eats at night and offers a wheel—
कृत्वा समांते सौवर्णं विष्णोः पदमवाप्नुयात्। एतत्कृष्णव्रतं नाम कल्पांते राज्यलाभकृत्
Having made a golden wheel at the end, he attains the abode of Vishnu; this is called the 'Kṛṣṇa Vow,' which grants sovereignty at the end of the aeon.
पायसाशी समांते तु दद्याद्विप्राय गोयुगम्। लक्ष्मीलोके वसेत्कल्पमेतद्देवीव्रतं स्मृतं
At the end, one who eats rice pudding should give a pair of cows to a brahmin; he dwells in the realm of Lakṣmī for an aeon—this is known as the 'Goddess Vow.'
सप्तम्यां नक्तभुग्दद्यात्समाप्ते गां पयस्विनीं। सूर्यलोकमवाप्नोति भानुव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
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 known as the 'Bhānu Vow.'
चतुर्थ्यां नक्तभुग्दद्याद्धेमंते गोयुगं तथा। एतद्वैनायकं नाम शिवलोकफलप्रदम्
On the fourth day, one who eats at night and gives gold and a pair of cows at the end—this is called the 'Vaināyaka Vow,' bestower of the fruit of Śiva's realm.
महाफलानि यस्त्यक्त्वा चातुर्मास्ये द्विजातये। हैमानि कार्तिकेदद्याद्धोमान्ते गोयुगं तथा
Whoever, having renounced 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—
एतत्सौरव्रतं नाम सूर्यलोकफलप्रदम्। द्वादशाद्वादशीर्यस्तु समाप्योपोषणे नृप
This is called the 'Saurav Vow,' bestower of the fruit of the Sun's realm; whoever completes twelve fasts on the twelfth day, O king—
गोवस्त्रकांचनैर्विप्रान्पूजयेच्छक्तितो नरः। परं पदमवाप्नोति विष्णुव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
A man should worship brahmins with cows, garments, and gold as he is able; he attains the supreme state—this is known as the 'Viṣṇu Vow.'
चतुर्दश्यां तु नक्ताशी समान्ते गोयुगप्रदः। शैवं पदमवाप्नोति त्रैयंबकमिदं स्मृतम्
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 known as the 'Tryambaka Vow.'
सप्तरात्रोषितो दद्याद्घृतकुंभं द्विजातये। वरव्रतमिदं प्राहुर्ब्रह्मलोकफलप्रदम्
One who has fasted for seven nights should give a pot of ghee to a twice-born; this is called the supreme vow, said to grant the fruit of attaining Brahma's world.
असौ काशीं समासाद्य धेनुं दत्ते पयस्विनीम्। शक्रलोके वसेत्कल्पमिदं मंत्रव्रतं स्मृतम्
Upon reaching Kashi, one gives a milch cow; he dwells in Indra's world for an aeon—this is known as the mantra vow.