In the sacred tradition, it is taught that one should prepare offerings and, in the morning, present them to a twice-born, invoking, “May Viṣṇu, in his dwarf form, be pleased.” This act is to be performed with the name of the month and the rite of manifestation, following the rule everywhere: “May he be pleased.” Such is the prescribed method. Long ago, there lived a king named Haryaśva, lord of the earth. Though prosperous, he was childless and yearned for a son. Driven by this desire, he undertook severe austerities, keeping vigil through the night. As he performed his vigil, Hari himself appeared before him, disguised as a twice-born. The divine visitor asked, “By your austerity, O King, what have you resolved?” Haryaśva replied, “It is for the sake of a son.” The Lord then instructed, “This is the procedure, O King; perform it.” With these words, he vanished. Eagerly, the king carried out the ritual with the proper mantras, offering it to the poor and to the wise Jyotirgarga. He prayed, “Just as another’s son attained sonship, by that truth, may I too have a noble son.” By this method, a son was indeed born to him—a mighty emperor named Kuvalashva. It is said that through this observance, a sonless man gains a son, a poor man gains wealth, one who has lost his kingdom regains it, and the departed reach Viṣṇu’s abode. Kuvalashva, praised for a long time in the heavenly realms, returned to the mortal world and ruled as a wise emperor, like Yayati, son of Nahusha. The sage Durvasa then spoke of another sacred observance. In the month of Vaishakha, one should resolve to follow the prescribed procedure. After bathing and completing other rites, the devotee should proceed to the temple. There, worshipping Hari with devotion, he recites mantras dedicating each part of the Lord’s form: “To Jamadagni, the feet; to the bearer of all, the abdomen; to Madhusudana, the waist and chest, the bearer of the Srivatsa; to the destroyer of Kshatriyas, 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.” After worship, the wise man places a pot before him, covered and wrapped with a pair of cloths. In a bamboo vessel, he installs Hari, known as Jamadagni, the destroyer of suffering, making the deity hold an axe in the right hand and adorning him with fragrant substances and auspicious flowers. The devotee then keeps vigil through the night, and at dawn, when the sun is pure, offers the ritual to a Brahmin. Durvasa promises the fruit of such observance. Once, there was a powerful king named Virasena, who, being sonless, performed intense austerity. As he practiced these fierce austerities, the great sage Yajnavalkya, radiant with supreme power, came near. The king greeted him with joined hands and reverence. Yajnavalkya asked, “For what purpose are you practicing austerity, O king?” Virasena replied, “I am without a son, and thus afflicted by this austerity; my body is tormented.” Yajnavalkya said, “Enough of this hardship, O king. With little effort, you will have a son—there is no doubt.” The king humbly asked how this could be. Durvasa recounts that the sage then explained the Dvadashi observance, which occurs in the bright fortnight of Vaishakha. The king, desiring a son, performed the vow as prescribed, and a son was born to him—Nala, supremely righteous, whose virtues are still sung in the world today. Durvasa declares that this is the incidental result for one who performs the observance: a good son, possessing wealth, knowledge, and beauty. Beyond this birth, the devotee dwells for one kalpa in Brahma’s world among the Apsaras. At the end of his celestial enjoyment, upon creation again, he becomes a universal monarch, living for thirty thousand years. There is no doubt in this promise. Durvasa continues, “In the month of Jyeshtha, in the same way, a man should resolve and worship the Supreme Lord with auspicious flowers. First, he should worship the feet with the words, ‘Homage to Rama, the delight of Rama,’ then the waist with ‘Trivikrama,’ the abdomen with ‘Holder of the universe,’ the chest with ‘Year,’ the neck with ‘Samvartaka,’ the arms with ‘Bearer of all weapons,’ and the lotus-chariot-armed ones by their own names. Having worshipped the thousand-headed great soul’s head, he should place the pot as before, covering it with a pair of cloths. The golden images of Rama and Lakshmana are to be worshipped, and in the morning, the devotee should give them to a Brahmin with a devoted mind.” Once, King Dasharatha, being without a son, sought advice and, desiring a son, especially worshipped Vasistha. The sage explained this very rite, and Dasharatha performed it according to the proper procedure. As a result, his son was born—a powerful son named Rama. Viṣṇu, the imperishable one, was pleased and manifested in fourfold form. The fruits of this observance are not only in this world: the performer enjoys pleasures in heaven for as long as ten Indras—and twice that number—reign. After that time, he is born again as a mortal, becoming a king who has performed a hundred sacrifices. All his sins are destroyed, and he attains eternal liberation. Finally, Durvasa says, “In the month of Ashadha, in the same way, a man should resolve and, according to the rite, worship the Supreme Lord many times with fragrant flowers.” Thus, the sacred observances continue, each month bringing its own blessings and rewards for the faithful.