The sages, eager for knowledge, approached the Lord and humbly asked him to explain, in proper sequence, the various sacred rites: the fire-sacrifice, the sacrifice to the gods, the Brahma-yajña, the worship of the teacher, and the satisfaction of the Brahmins. The Lord replied: “Whatever substance is offered into the sacred fire is known as the fire-sacrifice. For those who are students, especially, the offering of fuel sticks into the fire is prescribed. The placing of these sticks, the taking of initial vows, and other special rites are meant for those in the first stage of life, up to the aupāsana rite. For those who dwell in the forest or have become ascetics, the fire is established within themselves; for them, the act of eating pure and moderate food at the proper time is considered their offering. The aupāsana fire, once kindled and maintained—whether in a pit or a vessel—should be kept perpetually. Yet, the fire may also be established within oneself or in the forest, depending on royal or divine command; and when there is fear of having to abandon the fire, it is said to be established within. The evening offering into the fire bestows prosperity, while the morning offering to the sun grants long life. This fire-sacrifice is to be performed during the day after the sun has risen. Whoever offers into the fire, addressing all the gods beginning with Indra, is recognized as a performer of the sacrifice. The worship of the gods includes offerings such as cooked rice and other rites, as well as ceremonies like the caula; all these are to be performed in the domestic fire. A twice-born should perform the Brahma-yajña, the sacrifice to Brahman, once for the satisfaction of the gods; this Brahma-yajña is the study and recitation of the Veda. This is a perpetual monthly rite and should not be performed without fire. Now, listen with faith and respect to the worship of the gods performed without fire. At the beginning of creation, the all-knowing, compassionate Mahadeva, for the benefit of all worlds, established the days of the week. As the great physician of the world and the remedy for all remedies, he first established his own day as the giver of health. He then set aside a day for the prosperity of his own power, Maya, and for granting boons. Afterwards, he assigned a day for Kumara, for birth and for overcoming misfortune. For the removal of laziness and misfortune, the Lord established another day; likewise, for Vishnu, the protector, out of desire for the welfare of the worlds, he set a day apart. For nourishment and protection, he established a day, and then, to grant long life, he designated a day for the giver of life. For the fulfillment of the world’s longevity, he set aside a day for Brahma, the supreme creator of the three worlds. In the beginning, for the growth of the three worlds, when merit and demerit were established, he created a day for their agents—Indra and Yama. A day was also established for enjoyment, for the removal of death, and for the worlds; the forms of the Adityas and others, who indicate happiness and sorrow, were also established. Having first established the lords of the days, fixed in the wheel of light, worship of each deity on their own day bestows their respective fruits. Thus, health, prosperity, the pacification of diseases, nourishment, longevity, enjoyment, and the removal of death are obtained in due order. The fruits of the days are especially obtained by pleasing the gods, and Shiva himself grants the fruits of worship even of other gods. For the satisfaction of the gods, worship is prescribed in five ways: recitation of their respective mantras, oblations, giving, and austerity. Worship may be performed on a mound of earth, in an image, in fire, or in the form of a Brahmin, using sixteen kinds of offerings. If the previous method is absent, the next is to be used, each being superior to the one before. These rites are especially effective for diseases of the eyes, the head, and for the pacification of leprosy. After worshipping the Sun, one should feed Brahmins; this may be done for a day, a month, a year, or even three years. Karma that has begun and is strong, such as disease and the like, is destroyed by recitation and other rites performed for the chosen deity; thus, the wise know that the results of observances on the days of the week arise in this way. Especially for the pacification of sin, one should make offerings on Sunday to the Sun, to the gods, and to distinguished Brahmins. On Monday, one should worship Lakshmi and other deities for prosperity, and feed Brahmins and their wives with clarified butter and rice. On Tuesday, worship of deities such as Kali is prescribed for the pacification of diseases, with offerings of black gram, green gram, and rice to Brahmins. On Wednesday, the wise should worship Vishnu with curd and rice, bringing increase in sons, friends, wives, and the like. Desiring long life, on Thursday, one should worship the gods for strength, using sacred thread, cloth, milk, and clarified butter. For enjoyment, on Friday, one should worship the gods with concentration and give food containing all six tastes to satisfy the Brahmins. For the satisfaction of women, one should give auspicious items such as cloth; and for the removal of untimely death, on Saturday, the wise should worship Rudra and others, offering sesame in the fire, making gifts, and feeding with sesame food, thus obtaining results such as health. In daily and special worship of the gods, in bathing, giving, recitation, fire-offering, and in satisfying Brahmins, on the conjunctions of lunar days and stars, in the worship of each respective deity, and on the days of the week, the all-knowing Lord of the universe, in each form, bestows upon all the results such as health, according to place, time, and the recipient. According to the substance, faith, and custom, and in the order of superiority, the god grants health and other benefits. At the beginning of auspiciousness and the end of inauspiciousness, and at birth-stars in the house, the householder should worship the planets beginning with the Sun for health and prosperity.