197 - Vows performed on certain days 

Agni said:

1-6. Ishall describe the vows to be performed on certain days. Ishall first explain the Dhenuvrata (vow of giving a cow as a gift). One who gives as a gift a cow delivering a calf together with plenty of gold and observes the payovrata (drinking milk oozing from the udders of a cow), reaches the exalted position. After practising payovrata for three days and giving a golden (replica of) kalpapādapa (the celestial tree that yields the desired object), one reaches the place of lord Brahmā. This is known as the kalpavruksavrata. Oneshould give as gift golden (replica of) earth (weigning) more luan twenty palas and practise payovrata that day. That person would reach (the world of) Rudra. One who eats food only once a day for three days in every fortnight would get enormous wealth. One who observes the tritātravrata (vow for three nights) every day in every month eating only once in the nights) for three nigiits in every month would get the place of Ganesha. One who practises the tritātravrata intended for lord Janardana (a forın of Vishņu) would reach the abode of lord Hari takung with him hundreds of his own family. 

7-11. One who practises the vow called tritātravratashould begin it on the ninth day in the bright fortnight in (the month of) märgaśirsa. Oneshould repeat, “Om, obeisance to Vasudeva”, a thousand or hundred times. Oneshould eat once on the eighth, day, fast for three days worship lord Vishņu on the twelfth day and practise the vow in kärttika. After having fed the brahmins, oneshould give clothes, beds, seats, umbrellas, sacred threads and vessels. Heshould then request brahmins “Whatever has become incomplete for me in this difficult vow, let it become complete being permitted by you”. One who practises the trirätravrata would attain lord Vishnu after having enjoyed all comforts. 

12-16. Ishall describe the kārttikavrata that would confer enjoyment and emancipation. One who partakes five things got from a cow on the tenth day, fasts on the eleventh day and worships lord Vishnu in the bright fortnight in kārttika would reach him by the celestial vehicle. One who eats for three nights in chaitra and gives five goats would be happy. Drinking milk for three nights and fasting for three days on the sixth day etc. of the bright fortnight in kārttika is said to be the expiation māhendra. After having drunk milk for five nights, fasting, taking only curd, on the eleventh day in kārttika is (known to be) the expiation Bhaskara, that confers wealth. Taking gruel made of barley and rice, curd, milk, ghee and water on the fifth day etc. in the bright fortnight is known to be expiation santapana.