On an auspicious day, one should worship the heroic and steadfast Vinayaka—he who bears the elephant face, a large belly, and a single tusk. With reverence, perform a fire offering to remove all obstacles. By simply undertaking this worship, all hindrances are dissolved, and, through the grace of Vinayaka, one attains accomplishment. Agastya then spoke to the king, saying, “O King, let me explain to you the Shanti vow, by observing which householders may always find peace. O virtuous one, begin this vow on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Karttika, and maintain it for a year, consuming only food that is free from sourness. At night, after worshipping Hari, who rests upon Shesha, honor his feet as Ananta, his waist as Vasuki. Worship his abdomen as Takshaka, his chest as Karkotaka, his neck as Padma, and his two arms as Mahapadma. His face should be worshipped as Shankhapala and his head as Kutila. In this way, worship Vishnu in these forms and also honor each separately. Bathe these forms with milk, and bathe Hari as well. In their presence, offer milk mixed with sesame seeds into the fire. At the end of the year, arrange a meal for Brahmins, and present a golden serpent to a Brahmin. Whoever performs this vow with devotion will always enjoy peace and need never fear serpents. Agastya continued, “O great king, now hear of the Kama vow, by which all desires—even those only thought of in the mind—are fulfilled. On the sixth day, one who eats only fruits and observes the vow for a year, and takes a meal on the fourth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Pausha, will be blessed. On the sixth day, the wise should first offer fruit, then eat pure rice with controlled speech. Whether with Brahmins or with fruits alone, after observing the fast for one day, complete it on the seventh day. Perform the fire ritual, worshiping Kesava in the form of Guha, and, honoring him by name, observe the vow for a year. Worship Vishnu as the six-faced Karttikeya, Guha, commander of the army, son of the Krittikas, Kumara, Skanda—by all his names. At the completion of the vow, arrange a meal for Brahmins and present a golden image of Shanmukha to a Brahmin. Pray, ‘May all desires be fulfilled, O god Kumaraka, by your grace; may this offering, received with devotion, be quickly accepted.’ Give this gift with the mantra, along with a pair, and all desires will be fulfilled in this very life. The childless will gain a son, the poor will find wealth, one deprived of a kingdom will regain his realm—there is no doubt. This vow was once observed by Nala, best of kings, while residing in the realm of Rituparna, and by many other eminent kings who had lost their kingdoms, seeking success through this ancient practice. Agastya then said, “O great king, I will now describe another vow, the Arogya-vrata, supremely meritorious and destroyer of all sins. On the seventh day of the month of Magha, having fasted, worship Bhaskara, the eternal form of Vishnu. Worship him by his names: Aditya, Bhaskara, Ravi, Bhanu, Surya, Divakara, Prabhakara. On the sixth day, take food; on the seventh, worship Bhanu; on the eighth, eat again—this is the proper order. Whoever worships the Sun in this manner for a full year, gains health, wealth, and grain in this life, and in the next, an auspicious place from which there is no return. Long ago, the universal emperor Anaranya, renowned for his might, worshipped the Sun with this vow. The pleased god granted him the highest health as a boon. Bhadrashva then asked, “Was that king afflicted by disease, that he obtained health? How did disease arise for the universal emperor?” Agastya replied, “That king, famous and handsome, once went to the divine lake of the mind, accompanied by hosts of gods. In the middle of the lake, he saw a great white lotus. Within it stood a supreme person, the size of a thumb, clothed in red garments, with two arms, and shining with intense brilliance. Seeing this, the king said to his charioteer, ‘Bring me this lotus. If I bear it upon my head before all the worlds, I will be praiseworthy. Fetch it quickly.’ The charioteer entered the lake and tried to take the lotus. As soon as he touched it, a loud sound arose; frightened, he fell and died. At that very moment, the king, because of the sound, became afflicted with leprosy, lost his color, and was deprived of strength and vigor. Overwhelmed with grief, the king pondered, ‘What is this?’ As he reflected, the wise and great ascetic Vasishtha, son of Brahma, arrived and questioned him, ‘How has this condition come upon your body, O tiger among kings? What should be done now?’ Thus addressed, the king recounted the entire story of the lotus.