Having been praised at length in the celestial realms, a soul descended to this mortal world and was born as a wise and noble emperor, comparable in virtue and majesty to Yayati, the illustrious son of Nahusha. Now, Durvasa spoke of a sacred observance to be performed in the month of Vaishakha. He instructed that, after bathing and completing the proper purification rites, a man should approach the temple with a resolute heart. There, with deep devotion, he should worship Lord Hari, reciting specific mantras as he offers homage to each part of the divine form: “To Jamadagni, the feet; to the bearer of all, the abdomen; to Madhusudana, the waist and chest, the bearer of the Srivatsa mark; 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.” In this way, the worshipper honors the Lord in his many aspects. After this worship, the devotee should place a pot before him, covered and wrapped in two cloths. In a bamboo vessel, he is to install the form of Hari known as Jamadagni, the destroyer of suffering, and fashion the deity to hold an axe in the right hand. The ritual continues with offerings of fragrant substances and a variety of auspicious flowers. Through the night, the devotee should maintain a vigil before the deity. Then, at dawn, when the sun has risen in its purity, he must offer the pot and its contents to a worthy Brahmin. Durvasa promised to reveal the fruits of such observance. He recounted the story of a king named Virasena, a mighty and fortunate ruler who, being without a son, undertook severe austerities with great determination. As the king performed these fierce penances, the great sage Yajnavalkya, radiant with spiritual power, approached. Seeing the sage, the king rose with joined palms to honor him. Yajnavalkya, pleased, asked the king why he undertook such hardships. The king replied, “O blessed sage, I am afflicted, for I have no son to continue my lineage. This sorrow torments my body and mind.” Yajnavalkya assured him, “Enough of this severe austerity, O king. With a simple observance, you will certainly be blessed with a son.” Eager to know more, the king implored the sage to reveal the means. Yajnavalkya then described the Dvadashi observance, to be performed in the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, as Durvasa had explained. The king, desiring a son, faithfully performed the rite and was blessed with a son named Nala, renowned for his righteousness and still praised in the world as a paragon of virtue. Durvasa declared that this is the worldly result for one who performs the observance: a noble son, endowed with wealth, wisdom, and beauty, will be born. But there are also rewards beyond this life. After enjoying the delights of Brahma’s world among the Apsaras for a full kalpa, the devotee is reborn as a universal monarch, ruling for thirty thousand years. Durvasa continued: “In the month of Jyeshtha, in the same manner, a man should resolve to worship the Supreme Lord with various auspicious flowers, following the prescribed rite. He should honor the feet with the words, ‘Homage to Rama, the delight of Rama,’ 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 two lotus-handed ones by their own names. After worshipping the thousand-headed great soul’s head, he should place the pot as before, covering it with two cloths, and set golden images of Rama and Lakshmana above it. When morning comes, he should offer them to a worthy Brahmin with a devoted heart.” Durvasa then told of King Dasharatha, who, being childless, sought the counsel of the sage Vasistha. Vasistha instructed him in this very rite, and Dasharatha performed it with faith. As a result, a powerful son, Rama, was born to him—none other than Vishnu himself, manifesting in fourfold form. This, Durvasa said, is the result in this world. In the next world, the devotee enjoys heavenly pleasures for the span of ten Indras’ reigns, and after that, is reborn as a king who has performed a hundred sacrifices, freed from sin, and ultimately attains eternal liberation. Again, Durvasa spoke: “In the month of Ashadha, in the same way, a man should resolve to worship the Supreme Lord repeatedly with fragrant flowers. He should honor the feet as Vāsudeva, the hips as Saṃkarṣaṇa, the abdomen as Pradyumna, the chest as Aniruddha, the arms as the wielder of the discus, the neck as the lord of the earth, the conch and discus by their own names, and the head as the Purusha. After worship, he should place a pot covered with cloth, and above it, a golden image of Vāsudeva in his eternal fourfold form. This image, worshipped with fragrance and flowers, should be given to a virtuous Brahmin learned in the Vedas.” Durvasa then recounted the story of Vasudeva, the illustrious king who enhanced the Yadu lineage, and his virtuous wife, Devakī, who was childless for a long time. One day, the sage Nārada visited them. After being received with devotion, Nārada spoke to Vasudeva: “O sinless one, listen to my divine purpose. I have come swiftly to you after witnessing the plight of the earth in the assembly of the gods. The gods are burdened by the oppression of Saubha, Kaṃsa, Jarāsandha, Naraka, and the powerful Kurus, Pāñcālas, Bhojas, and Dānavas. The earth herself beseeches you, O best of gods, to end their tyranny.” He explained that, thus addressed, the gods went to Nārāyaṇa, and the Lord of the gods appeared before them instantly, moved by their plea. Thus, through these stories and observances, Durvasa revealed the power of devotion, proper worship, and the prescribed rites to bring blessings in this world and the next, as demonstrated by the great and noble souls of ancient times.