On the tenth day, after bathing at midday and worshipping Vishnu, a devotee should, with heartfelt devotion, resolve as before to observe the sacred twelfth day of the fortnight. Following this practice, one should offer barley to a Brahmin, saying, “for Krishna,” whether in the act of giving, sacrifice, or worship. Once the four-month period has been observed in this manner, the wise, beginning again from the month of Chaitra and onward, should continue with diligence, offering bowls of flour with gold to Brahmins. In the months starting with Shravana, similarly, rice should be given for three months, until the beginning of Kartika. Having completed these offerings, one should, on the tenth day, with purity and effort, worship Hari with devotion and name the month in reverence. Then, as before, the devotee should resolve to observe the twelfth day, restraining the senses; on the eleventh day, according to one’s ability, preparations should be made for the ritual, O king. By the prescribed method, an image of the earth should be established before Hari, fashioned with golden limbs, adorned with mountains and the netherworld. This image, covered with a pair of white garments and containing all seeds, should be worshipped as ‘Priyadatta,’ using five precious gems. A vigil should be kept by the image, and at dawn, Brahmins should be invited—up to twenty-four in number. To each Brahmin, a cow and a draught animal should be given, along with a pair of garments and a ring. Bracelets and golden earrings should also be bestowed, and to each, the king should grant a village. The middle Brahmin, along with his pair, should receive all the foremost items, while ornaments, according to one’s means, should be given to the poor, respecting their capacity. According to one’s ability, having made the earth golden, a pair of cows and a pair of garments should likewise be given, in keeping with one’s wealth. A cow, a pair of ornaments, and all items with gold should be offered; thus, both the dark and bright twelfth days should be observed. If possible, an offering of the earth in silver should be made and given to Brahmins, along with food. Sandals, shoes, and umbrellas should also be offered, as one’s means allow. Having completed these acts, one should pray, “May Krishna, Damodara, always be pleased with me; may Hari, the Lord of all forms, be ever favorable to me.” The merit gained from giving and feeding in this way is so vast it cannot be described, even in a thousand years. Yet, O sinless one, I shall tell you briefly some of the results; listen to the auspicious deeds performed in ancient times through this vow. In the first age, there lived a king, steadfast in vows and learned in Brahman. Desiring a son, he approached Brahma, the supreme lord, who revealed this vow to him and performed it accordingly. At the conclusion of his vow, the Soul of the Universe appeared before him in person and, pleased, said, “O king, choose a boon from me.” The king replied, “O Lord of gods, grant me a son skilled in Vedic mantras, devoted to sacrifice, endowed with fame, long-lived, possessing countless virtues, pure, and Brahman-like.” The king then added, “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 time, the king’s son was born, named Vatsapri. He became accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, a performer of sacrifices, learned in many scriptures; his fame spread throughout the earth. Having obtained such a son, Viṣṇudatta, radiant in glory, the king 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 asked, “O Brahman, what kind of hymn did that king compose? And what happened to him as he praised the supreme Lord?” Durvāsā replied, “Relying on Himavat, the king, his mind absorbed there, composed a hymn to the powerful god Vishnu.” The king sang, “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. O god, you have performed deeds among gods and demons, which are recounted, O infinite form; this creation is for your purpose, O Vishnu, and nothing is done by one who is hidden. Likewise, you have taken the forms of the tortoise and the boar; you have assumed many shapes; due to your omniscience, repeated births are recounted for you, O Acyuta, but in truth, they do not exist. O Narasimha, salutations to you; O Vamana, O Jamadagni by name, O destroyer of the lineage of ten-headed Ravana, O Vasudeva; salutations to you, O Buddha, Kalkin, lord of birds; O Shambhu, salutations to you, destroyer of the arrogant. Salutations to Narayana, to Padmanabha; salutations, O Supreme Person; salutations to you, honored by all assemblies of immortals; salutations to you, chief among all who possess knowledge. Salutations to you, with fierce-faced Narasimha form; salutations to you, Kurma, whose body is like a vast mountain; salutations to you, Matsya, whose form resembles the ocean; I salute you, O Ananta, who assumed the form of a boar. This action of yours, O Lord, is for the purpose of creation; your embodiment is not primary, O Supreme; this meditation has been revealed to the ignorant; without them, you are not perceived, O Ancient One. You are the origin of sacrifice, O Vishnu, and you yourself are its limbs; you are the oblation; you are the sacrificial animal; you are the priest and the object of worship; the hosts of gods and sages worship you. Whatever in this world is stable or moving, established by gods, time, and fire, is supreme; you are not divided, O Janardana, O Lord; grant me the accomplishment my heart desires. Salutations to you, lotus-eyed one, both embodied and unembodied, O Hari; I have taken refuge in you—lift me up from worldly existence.” Thus praised by that great-souled king, standing beneath the vast mango tree, the Supreme Lord was pleased.