By observing the prescribed procedure each month, even a man without a son—if he fasts on the sacred Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī—will surely be blessed with a son, without doubt. This truth is illustrated by the story of King Śūrasena, mighty yet sonless, who once performed austere penances upon the excellent Himavat mountain. As he engaged in these austerities, the god revealed to him the vow of Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī. Śūrasena faithfully undertook the vow, and as a result, he obtained a son—Vasudeva, who became greatly fortunate and renowned for performing many sacrifices. Through this, the royal sage attained supreme liberation. Thus, O king, the vow of Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī has been described. At the end of the year, a pair of black cows should be given to a twice-born as an offering. This vow, meant for those desiring a son, frees the performer from all sins. Now, sage Agastya spoke further: “I shall declare the supreme vow of valor, by which even a fearful person instantly attains great courage. In the month of Ashvayuja, one should observe a fast on the pure ninth day. The resolve should be made on the seventh, steadfast restraint kept on the eighth, and on the ninth, the king should offer flour with devotion. He should feed Brahmins with reverence and worship the goddess Durga, the blessed, the great illusion, the mighty one. This vow should be observed for a full year according to the prescribed method. At the conclusion, the wise should feed maidens as they are able, adorning them with gold, garments, and ornaments. Then, seeking their forgiveness, one should pray: ‘May the goddess be pleased with me.’ By performing this, one who has lost his kingdom will surely regain it; the unlearned will attain knowledge, and the fearful will become renowned for their valor. Agastya continued: “I shall briefly describe another universal vow. When properly performed, it swiftly makes a king sovereign over all. On the tenth day of the bright fortnight in Kartika, one should eat only at night and daily offer pure oblations in all directions. With various flowers and devotion, one should worship the foremost Brahmins and pray to the directions with the mantra: ‘May all the goddesses grant success to me in every birth.’ After this, and giving oblations with a pure mind, one should eat well-prepared rice and curds at night. This should be performed for a year, both first and last, as desired. Whoever observes this daily will achieve conquest of the directions. On the eleventh day, one should carefully perform the rite according to the rule, beginning from the bright fortnight of Margashirsha for a year. This vow is dear to the god of wealth and grants riches when performed. Whoever fasts on the eleventh day and eats on the twelfth, whether in the bright or dark fortnight, performs the great Vaishnava vow. These fierce vows, when observed, destroy sins. On the thirteenth day, the vow of righteousness is performed by eating only at night. In the bright fortnight of Phalguna, the wise should begin; the fierce vow is especially performed on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, starting from the month of Magha, for a full year. On the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight, the moon vow is observed by eating at night; the ancestral vow is performed on the new moon, as prescribed. Whoever performs these lunar vows for ten or five years, O king, achieves fruits according to the measure of the vow: thousands of Ashvamedha sacrifices and hundreds of Rajasuya rituals, and other rites prescribed in the scriptures, are performed by him. Even a single violation destroys the vow and brings constant sin; but whoever completes them fully becomes pure, free from stain, and attains all the worlds. Then, Bhadraashva asked Agastya, “If you know of any marvel, or have seen one, O knower of dharma, please tell me, for my curiosity is great.” Agastya replied, “The Blessed Lord Janardana himself is the source of wonders; many and various marvels of his have indeed been seen. Once, O king, Narada journeyed to Shvetadvipa, where he saw men bearing conch, discus, and lotus, blazing with intense radiance. Upon seeing them, Narada thought, ‘This is Vishnu, this is Vishnu, this is the eternal Vishnu.’ Yet he wondered, ‘Who among these is truly Vishnu, the Lord?’ As he pondered, his mind turned to Krishna: ‘How shall I worship the bearer of conch, discus, and mace? By what means may I know which among them is the supreme Lord Narayana?’ Thinking thus, he meditated on that supreme God. Narada, son of Brahma, meditated for a full thousand divine years. The Lord became pleased with him and appeared before him with a gracious heart, saying, ‘O son of Brahma, ask for a boon; what shall I grant you, great sage?’ Narada replied, ‘O Lord of the world, I have meditated on you for a thousand years; if you are pleased with me, Achyuta, tell me how you may be attained.’ The Lord of gods answered, ‘Those twice-born who worship me by following the Purusha Sukta, or by adhering to the original Samhita, they shall attain me, O Narada. If the Vedic scriptures are not available, people may see me by the path set forth in the Pancharatra; by that path, they shall attain me. The Pancharatra is prescribed for Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas; it shall not be accessible to the ears or status of Shudras and others. Thus I have declared, O best of Brahmins, in the ancient kalpa: if anyone among thousands should accept the Pancharatra—if, at the end of his actions, anyone becomes my devotee, then this Pancharatra will always abide in his heart. Others, enveloped by royal and tamasic dispositions, O best of twice-born, will turn away from my command.’ Thus, the sacred vows, their fruits, and the wondrous ways of attaining the Supreme have been revealed, illustrating the profound paths and marvels within Sanātana Dharma.