With deep reverence, the sage continued his narration to the king, describing the sacred rituals by which the Lord of the gods, Vishnu, may be pleased. He explained: “For Manmatha, offer worship at the feet; for Hari, let your devotion be present everywhere. Adorn the Lord with flowers, especially the fragrant blossoms of jasmine, for these are most dear to him. Afterwards, take four beautiful stalks of sugarcane and, with humility, place them in the four directions around the image of the deity. Bow down before the Lord, O King, and in the morning, offer these sugarcane stalks to a Brahmin who is well-versed in the Vedas and Vedangas, whose body is whole and who is wise. Honor the Brahmins with due respect and thereby complete your vow. By such observances, Vishnu, the supreme Lord, will surely become your husband. However, let me remind you: when you approached me earlier, you did not offer a respectful greeting, moved as you were by pride, O beautiful ones. Because of this lack of respect, you will bear the consequences. In this very lake, the great sage Ashtavakra, when mocked by you, will utter a curse. By the power of this vow, you will indeed win the Lord of the gods as your husband, but pride will again bring disrespect and you will be carried away by cowherds. The very god who once stole the hearts of maidens will become your husband, as ordained.” Having spoken thus, the divine sage Narada departed at once. The women, filled with devotion, performed the prescribed vow, and Hari, the Supreme Lord, was pleased with them. The sage Agastya then addressed the fortunate king: “Hear now of the supreme vow, the greatest among all vows, by which Vishnu himself is attained—there can be no doubt. In the month of Margashirsha, begin on the first day, taking only one meal each day during the bright fortnight, and continue until the arrival of the tenth lunar day. On the tenth day, after bathing at midday and worshipping Vishnu, resolve with devotion to observe the vow again on the twelfth day, just as before. When this has been observed, offer barley to a Brahmin, declaring ‘for Krishna,’ whether in giving, in sacrifice, or in worship. After completing this practice for four months, O best of kings, begin again from the month of Chaitra onward. The wise should continue the observance with diligence, giving bowls of flour with gold to Brahmins. In the months beginning with Shravana, for three months, one should give rice until Kartika arrives. Once this is completed, on the tenth day, with purity and effort, worship Hari with devotion and declare the name of the month. As before, resolve to observe the vow on the twelfth day, restraining the senses. On the eleventh day, prepare the earth as you are able, O king. Establish an image of the earth, fashioned according to the prescribed method, with golden limbs, adorned with mountains and the netherworld, before Hari. Cover it with two white garments and fill it with all seeds, worshipping it as Priyadatta with five gems, O wise one. Keep vigil there and, at dawn, invite Brahmins in numbers up to twenty-four. To each Brahmin, give a cow and a draught animal, a pair of garments, and a ring. Present bracelets and golden earrings as well, and to each, the king should bestow a village. The one in the middle, along with the pair, should receive all the foremost items. Give ornaments to the poor according to your ability and means. Having made the earth golden, give it with a pair of cows and garments as your wealth allows. Offer a cow, a pair of ornaments, and all gifts with gold. Thus, continue to observe both the dark and bright twelfth days. If possible, make an offering of the earth in silver and give it to Brahmins along with food, as well as sandals, shoes, and umbrellas according to your means. Having given these, say: ‘May Krishna, Damodara, always be pleased with me; may Hari, the Lord of all forms, ever be favorable to me.’ The merit gained by such giving and feeding cannot be fully described even in a thousand years. Yet, O sinless one, I will briefly recount some of the results. Listen to the auspicious deeds performed in ancient times through this vow. In the first age, there was a king, steadfast in vows and learned in Brahman. Desiring a son, he approached Brahma, the supreme lord, who revealed this very vow to him and performed it likewise. At the completion of his vow, the Soul of the Universe appeared before him in person and, pleased, said, ‘O king, ask for a boon.’ The king replied, ‘O Lord of gods, grant me a son skilled in Vedic mantras, devoted to sacrifice, endowed with fame, long-lived, possessed of countless virtues, pure, and Brahman-like.’ Then he spoke again, ‘O Supreme Lord, grant me at the end a blessed place, that which is called the sage’s abode, where, having reached, one does not grieve.’ The god replied, ‘So be it,’ and vanished from sight. In due course, the king’s son was born, and he was named Vatsapri. This son became accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, a performer of sacrifices, learned in many scriptures, and his fame spread across the earth. Having obtained such a noble son, the king, Viṣṇudatta, radiant in glory, renounced all dualities and devoted himself to austerity. He worshipped Hari, fasting and mastering his senses, on the beautiful mountain Himavat, composing hymns at that time. Bhadrāśva then asked, ‘O Brahman, what kind of hymn did that king compose? And what befell him as he praised the Supreme Lord?’ Durvāsā replied, ‘Dwelling on Himavat, the king, his mind absorbed there, composed a hymn to the powerful god Vishnu.’ The king’s hymn was thus: ‘I praise Janārdana, the Lord, who is both perishable and imperishable, who reclines upon the ocean of milk, who supports the earth, who is the supreme goal among embodied beings, who is beyond the senses, whose arms encompass the universe, who is manifest and unmanifest. You are the primeval god, the embodiment of ultimate reality, the all-pervading, ancient, supreme person; beyond the senses, foremost among those who know the Vedas; protect me, O wielder of conch, mace, and weapon.’ Thus, the king’s devotion and the power of the vow brought him the Lord’s grace and fulfillment beyond measure.