Saṃvarta addressed his sons with gravity, saying, “My father was violent, and I am even more so because of him. Thus, you, my sons, have been born with sinful actions.” He instructed them to don deer skins and observe strict vows of restraint, dwelling in the forest for five years. Only after this period, he assured them, would they be purified. Obediently, the sons wrapped themselves in deer skins, entered the forest without anxiety, and began reciting the eternal Brahman. A year passed in this way. Then, King Vīradhanvan arrived at the place where the sons, appearing as deer in their attire, were residing. At the foot of a certain tree, the sons stood reciting, their deer skin garments blending them with the surroundings. Mistaking them for actual deer, the king shot at them, killing all those devoted speakers of Brahman. When the king saw the brāhmaṇas, steadfast in their vows, lying lifeless, he was seized with fear and trembling. He hurried to the hermitage of Devarāta and confessed, “Great sage, I have incurred the sin of killing brāhmaṇas.” He recounted the entire event, his heart overwhelmed with grief, and wept in great sorrow. Sage Devarāta comforted him, saying, “Do not fear, O king; I shall remove your sin. Just as the earth, called Sutala, sank into the netherworld and was lifted up by the god Vishnu in the form of a boar, so too, O king, you, overwhelmed by the sin of killing a Brahmin, will be rescued by the god Janardana himself.” Delighted, the king asked, “By what means does that god show favor to me? When he is pleased, how does all misfortune vanish, O noble one?” Durvasa explained that Devarata revealed a sacred vow to the king, who performed it faithfully and enjoyed abundant pleasures. At the time of his death, the king ascended to heaven, to Indra’s realm, in a golden, radiant chariot. Indra himself came forward to greet him, but Vishnu’s attendants remarked, “The king of gods should not be seen by one lacking in austerity.” Drawn by the king’s radiance, all the guardians of the worlds came out, but Vishnu’s attendants rejected them, deeming their deeds insufficient. Thus, the king reached the end of the world of truth. In that world, free from death, burning, and destruction, the great king remains even now, praised by the gods. When the Lord of Sacrifice is pleased, what wonder can there be? In this life, fortune, longevity, health, and wealth are bestowed by worship according to the prescribed method, granting the highest immortality. When the full year is completed, Narayana, the four-formed, supreme and precious, grants his own abode—there is no doubt. Just as Keshava, in the form of a fish, rescued the Vedas, and as the Lord held Mount Mandara during the churning of the ocean, so too is the second Vaishnava form, Kurma the tortoise. And just as the Supreme Person, in the form of a boar, lifted the earth from the netherworld, so is the third Vaishnava form. Durvasa continued, “In the same way, in the month of Phalguna, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight, one should fast and worship Hari with the prescribed method, O wise one. For Narasimha, worship the feet; for Govinda, the thighs; for Vishvabhuja, the waist; for Aniruddha, the arms. For Shitikaṇṭha, worship the neck; for Piṅgakeśa, the head; for the destroyer of demons, the discus; for the water-formed, the conch—worship each with sandal, flowers, and fruits. In front, place a pot adorned with a pair of white cloths; above it, place a golden image of Narasimha in a copper vessel, made of gold if possible, or of wood or bamboo. Having placed it in a jewel-encrusted pot and worshipped it, offer it to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas on the twelfth day. By doing this, one obtains the fruit gained by the king of old, whose story I will now tell you, O great sage, under the name Vatsa. In the land of Kimpurusha, there was a king of supreme righteousness named Bharata; his son was Vatsa. Defeated in battle by his enemies, his treasury and elephants seized, Vatsa went to the forest with his wife and dwelled in the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha. As time passed, Vasiṣṭha asked him, ‘What is your purpose here in this great hermitage?’ The king replied, ‘Revered one, my treasury and kingdom have been taken, my resolve broken by enemies. I have come to you for refuge. By giving me instruction, please show your favor.’ Vasiṣṭha gave him the vow of Dvādaśī according to the prescribed method, and Vatsa performed everything as instructed. At the conclusion of his vow, the blessed Nṛsiṃha was pleased and granted him a discus, supreme in destroying enemies. With that weapon, the excellent king regained his kingdom, performed a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices, and ultimately attained Viṣṇuloka. This auspicious, sin-destroying Dvādaśī vow has been told to you, O sage; having heard it with care, do as you desire. Durvasa then said, “In the same way, O sage, in the month of Chaitra, one should resolve to observe Dvādaśī, fast, and worship Janārdana, the god of gods. One should worship the feet as Vāmana, the waist as Viṣṇu, the abdomen, chest, and entire body as Vāsudeva. The neck is to be worshipped as Viśvakṛt, the head as the one whose form is space, and the arms as Viśvajit, while the conch and discus are to be worshipped by their own names. Having worshipped the eternal god of gods in this manner, place two water pots in front, one to the east and one to the north. A wise person should place a golden image of Vāmana in the vessel, made small according to ability, adorned with a white sacred thread. Place a water pot at the side, an umbrella, sandals, a rosary, and especially a staff.” Thus, the sacred stories and rituals were revealed, guiding seekers toward purification, prosperity, and the supreme abode of Vishnu.