When the earnest seeker approached the sage Vasiṣṭha for guidance, Vasiṣṭha compassionately imparted to him the sacred vow of Dvādaśī, detailing each step according to the prescribed tradition. The seeker, filled with devotion, performed every aspect of the vow exactly as instructed by the sage. At the conclusion of his observance, the blessed Lord Nṛsiṃha, pleased with the seeker’s devotion, bestowed upon him a divine discus—an extraordinary weapon, supreme in its power to destroy enemies. Armed with this heavenly gift, the noble king reclaimed his lost kingdom. Settled once more upon his throne, he performed a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices, and, through his merit, ultimately attained the exalted realm of Viṣṇuloka. Thus, the auspicious and sin-destroying Dvādaśī vow has been recounted, O sage. Having listened to it with care, you may now act as your heart desires. Durvāsas then continued: In a similar manner, O sage, during the month of Chaitra, one should resolve to observe the Dvādaśī fast and worship Janārdana, the Lord of lords. In this worship, the devotee should honor the Lord’s feet as Vāmana, his waist as Viṣṇu, and his abdomen, chest, and entire body as Vāsudeva. The neck is to be adored as Viśvakṛt, the head as the one whose form is space itself, and the arms as Viśvajit. The conch and discus, too, are to be worshipped by their own sacred names. After thus venerating the eternal Lord of gods, the devotee should place two water pots before the deity—one to the east, one to the north. Into one of these, a golden image of Vāmana, crafted as small as one’s means allow and adorned with a white sacred thread, should be installed. Beside it, a water pot should be placed, along with an umbrella, sandals, a rosary, and especially a staff. In the morning, equipped with these offerings, one should present them to a worthy twice-born, saying, “May Viṣṇu, in his dwarf form, be pleased.” This rite, joined with the name of the month and the rite of manifestation, is declared everywhere as the proper rule, always invoking, “May he be pleased.” In ancient times, there lived a king named Haryaśva, lord of the earth. Childless and longing for an heir, he undertook severe austerities. During his night vigil, as he prayed for a son, Hari himself appeared before him, assuming the form of a twice-born. The Lord asked, “O King, by your austerities, what is your resolve?” The king replied, “It is for the sake of a son.” The Lord then said, “This is the procedure, O King; perform it.” With those words, the Lord vanished. The king immediately performed the prescribed ritual with mantras for the twice-born, offering it to the poor and to the wise Jyotirgarga. He prayed, “Just as another’s son has become a true son, by that truth, may I too be blessed with a noble son.” By this sacred method, a son was born to him—a mighty emperor named Kuvalāśva. Thus, a sonless man gains a son, a poor man acquires wealth, one who has lost his kingdom regains it, and the departed attain Viṣṇu’s abode. Praised in the celestial realms for a long time, Kuvalāśva returned to earth and became a wise and illustrious emperor, like Yayāti, son of Nahusha. Durvāsas further instructed: In the month of Vaiśākha, one should resolve to observe the vow in this way. After bathing and performing daily rites, the devotee should go to the temple and worship Hari with devotion, reciting these mantras: “To Jamadagni, the feet; to the bearer of all, the abdomen; to Madhusūdana, the waist and chest, the bearer of the Śrīvatsa mark; to the destroyer of Kṣatriyas, the arms; to the one with a jeweled throat, the neck; by his own name, the conch and discus; to the bearer of the universe, the head.” Having thus worshipped, the wise one should place a pot in front, covered and wrapped with a pair of cloths. In a bamboo vessel, Hari should be installed as Jamadagni, the destroyer of suffering. The deity should hold an axe in his right hand and be worshipped with fragrant substances and various auspicious flowers. In front of the deity, the devotee should perform a night vigil; at dawn, when the sun is pure, the offering should be given to a Brahmin. Listen now to the fruits of such observance. Once there was a mighty and fortunate king named Vīrasena, but he was without a son. He performed severe austerities, his body tormented by the effort. As he engaged in this fierce penance, the great sage Yājñavalkya, a master of yoga, approached and saw the king nearby. The king, recognizing the sage’s radiance, rose with joined palms and honored him. The sage asked, “For what purpose are you practicing such austerity, O king? Tell me what you wish to achieve.” The king replied, “O most fortunate one, I am without a son; I have no lineage. That is why I am afflicted by this austerity, and my body is tormented.” Yājñavalkya said, “Enough of this severe austerity, O king. With little effort, you will gain a son—there is no doubt.” The king humbly asked, “How will I obtain a son with so little effort? Please tell me, O blessed one.” Durvāsas explained that the sage then revealed to the king the observance of Dvādaśī in the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha. The king, eager for a son, performed the vow exactly as prescribed and was blessed with a son named Nala, renowned for his righteousness and virtue, still celebrated in the world today. Such is the incidental result for one who performs this vow: a good son endowed with wealth, knowledge, and beauty. But there is also a marvelous reward beyond this life: after residing for a kalpa in Brahmā’s world among the Apsarās, at the end of that time, upon creation’s renewal, he becomes a universal monarch, living for thirty thousand years—of this, there can be no doubt.