Agni said:
1-3. Ishall describe briefly the vows and gifts in general. Whichever vow or whichever gift or whiehever article or the routines in whichever time such as the first lunar day and other days, on days such as the (Sunday), in asterisms such as the kruttikā, in viskumba (a particular combination) etc., in thc (constellations) aries etc. and at the time of the eclipses, lord Vishnu is the governing deity for all these materials, and time. Sun, Isa, Brahma, Lakshmi and all others are the manifestations of lord Vishnu.
4-12. The vow, gift, worship and other acts done for him would yield all things. “O lord of the universe! You come here. (Here are) scat, water for washing the feet, waters of libation, the sweet drink, water for sipping, bathing, clothes, perfumes, flower, incense, lamp and offerings. Obeisance to you." This is the common statement in worship, vow and giving gift. The statement for giving a gift is similar. Listen to me. "Today I offer this article dedicated to Vishņu to such and such a brah min belonging to such and such a gotra. I offer this gift to you for the appeasement of all sins, for increasing the longevity and health, for increasing the fortune, for furthering the progeny in the gotra, for conquest, wealth, picty, desire for prosperity, the removal of that sin, and release from mundane existence. For the sake of the accomplishment of this gift I am giving to you only. May the lord, the master of the world, get permanently pleased with this. O Lord of sacrifice, gift and vow! Give me knowledge, fame and other things. Give me piety, desire, wealth and emancipation, that which is wished by the mind”. Whoever reads this collection of vow and gift daily, would get the desires fulfilled, would become pure and get enjoyment and emancipation. The vows whichshould be practised under the auspices of different lunar days, weekdays, casterisms, positions of the sun, astral combinations and Manu and the likeshould not be practised hy worshipping god Väsudeva in one and the same way.
Summary of chapter 208 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The Ucāṭana rite, used to drive away or uproot hostile persons from a place, is presented. The presiding form is Ugra Bhairava, invoked with a ten-syllable mantra. The sādhaka performs the homa at midnight using neem wood and black salt. Agni teaches that these rites are sanctioned only for protection of the dharmic order and must never be misused for personal animosity.