Listen, O twice-born, to the sacred guidelines for worship as handed down in the scriptures. The wise have established the measures for offerings, beginning with the prastha: one-eighth of a prastha is itself considered a prastha, and this unit is further divided into four kuḍavas, ten prasthas, a hundred prasthas, and even a thousand prasthas, as needed. For offerings such as water, oil, and other fragrant substances, the measure should be properly chosen according to the substance and the recipient. When worship is performed for humans, sages, or the self-born Lord, this is called the great worship. Each aspect of worship brings its own fruit. The ritual bath purifies the self; applying fragrance brings merit; offering food grants longevity and satisfaction; incense brings purpose to one’s actions. The offering of a lamp bestows knowledge, and betel leaves bring enjoyment. Thus, the sixfold ritual, beginning with ablution, should be carefully prepared. At the close of worship, salutation and sacred recitation grant all desired results. Whether one seeks enjoyment or liberation, these acts should always be performed. Worship must begin with devotion in the mind, and each act should follow with care. By worshipping the gods, the devotee attains the respective divine realms. In those intermediate worlds, one enjoys as the heart desires. Hear now the distinctions, O twice-born, as I explain them for your benefit. By worshipping Vighneśa—the Lord who removes obstacles—with proper devotion, one attains desired things in this world, especially when worship is performed on a Friday or on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the months of Śrāvaṇa or Bhādrapada. During the constellation of the physician, in the month of Dhanu, Vighneśa should be worshipped according to the prescribed rules. Whether one undertakes a hundred or a thousand worships, each should be completed in the same number of days. With faith, worship of the gods and the sacred fire always grants sons and all desired blessings, removes all sins, and destroys every misfortune. Worship of Śiva and other deities on the appropriate days of the week is renowned for bestowing self-purification; it forms the foundation for all desired results related to lunar days, stars, and auspicious conjunctions. Because the day, from sunrise to sunrise, does not increase or decrease, it is known as complete and is of the nature of Brahman. Thus, the day is the proper basis for all actions, beginning with those prescribed by Brahma. On lunar days and similar occasions, worship of the gods grants complete enjoyment to men. The earlier part of the day, especially at night, is dedicated to the ancestors and is praised; the later part, especially during the day, is for the gods and is commended. If the lunar day extends to sunrise, the proper time for worship is midday. When performing rites for the gods, one should carefully consider auspicious times, such as constellations and other omens, and then perform worship, recitation, and related rituals on the appointed days. The Vedas affirm that worship is to be performed in this manner. When the intended meaning is applied, the fulfillment of enjoyment and attainment of results arise from these actions. The word ‘worship’ is celebrated in both worldly and Vedic contexts as the proper application of mental attitude and knowledge for the sake of desired enjoyment. Obligatory and occasional rites are to be performed at their proper times: rites for specific desires should be done immediately, while obligatory ones are performed daily, monthly, fortnightly, or yearly, as appropriate. The results of each action are attained accordingly, and sins are gradually destroyed. The worship of Mahāgaṇapati is to be performed on the fourth day of the dark fortnight. This worship removes the sins of the fortnight and grants the fruits of the fortnight's enjoyments; when performed on the fourth day of Caitra, it bestows the results of the month. When performed in Siṃha or Bhādrapada, it grants the fruits of the year. On the seventh day, when the star Hasta falls on a Sunday from Śrāvaṇa onwards, worship should be performed. On the seventh day of the bright half of Māgha, worship of the Sun is prescribed. In Jyeṣṭha or Bhādrapada, on a Monday, and on the twelfth day when the star Śravaṇa is present, worship should be done. On the twelfth day, worship of Viṣṇu is especially auspicious and brings prosperity. In Śrāvaṇa, Viṣṇu worship is known to bestow the desired health. By giving twelve items such as cows, complete with their accessories, one attains the same result as by offering oblations to Viṣṇu on the twelfth day. On this day, one should worship twelve Brāhmaṇas, representing the twelve names of Viṣṇu, with sixteen offerings, thereby attaining the Lord’s favor. In this way, by worshipping all the gods with their respective twelve names, and by twelvefold worship of Brahmā, each deity is pleased. In the month of Karkaṭa, on a Monday, on the ninth day when the star Mṛgaśīrṣa is present, one who desires prosperity should worship the Mother Goddess, who bestows all fruits of enjoyment. The ninth day of the bright half of Āśvayuja grants all desired results, especially when it falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight and on a Sunday. On the day of Ārdrā or Mahārdrā, worship of Śiva is especially praised; on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Māgha, this worship bestows all desired results. It grants long life, removes death, and bestows all accomplishments. In the month of Jyeṣṭha, on the day of Mahārdrā and on the fourteenth day as well, or on the day of Ārdrā in Mārgaśīrṣa, with sixteen offerings, one should worship Śiva in that particular form, thereby attaining the vision of the Lord’s feet. Worship of Śiva is to be known as bestowing both enjoyment and liberation. Worship of the gods according to the days, especially in the month of Kārtika, is highly praised. When Kārtika arrives, the wise should worship all the gods with gifts, austerity, offerings, recitation, and discipline. With sixteen forms of service, with images and Vedic mantras, and by feeding Brahmins, one becomes a remover of desire and suffering. Worship of the gods in Kārtika grants all enjoyments, removes diseases, and destroys afflictions caused by spirits. On Sundays in Kārtika, by worshipping the Sun and giving oil and cotton, leprosy and similar diseases are destroyed. By giving harītakī, black pepper, cloth, milk, and similar things, and by establishing a Brahma image, consumption and wasting diseases are destroyed. By giving lamps and mustard seeds, epilepsy is removed. On Kṛttikā Mondays, worship of Śiva is prescribed; this removes great poverty and brings all prosperity, especially by giving houses, fields, and household items. On Kṛttikā Tuesdays, by worshipping Skanda and giving lamps, bells, and the like, mastery of speech is quickly attained. Thus, by following these sacred observances, one attains purification, fulfillment of desires, the removal of suffering, and ultimately, the highest blessings.