Adhyaya 197

Agni begins a new unit on day-based vows (divasa-vratāni), opening with the Dhenu-vrata—cow-related gifting and the ritual framing of sacred donations. He then sets out the payo-vrata (milk-vow) as a graded austerity: a single day grants “supreme prosperity,” while longer observance is paired with costly symbolic gifts, such as gold models (a wish-fulfilling tree) or a “golden earth” measured by pala-weight. Next comes the trirātra-vrata (three-night vow), to be repeated fortnightly or monthly, with regulated eating (eka-bhakta) and explicit devotion to Janārdana/Viṣṇu, promising results from wealth to ascent to Hari’s abode, even uplifting one’s lineage. The rite is tied to calendrical markers (Mārgaśīrṣa bright fortnight; Aṣṭamī/Dvādaśī) and includes mantra-japa (“Oṃ namo Vāsudevāya”), feeding brāhmaṇas, and donations of garments, bed, seat, umbrella, sacred thread, and vessel, ending with a formal plea for forgiveness for any ritual deficiency. Agni then introduces the Kārttika-vrata as “bhukti-mukti-prada” (granting enjoyment and liberation) and concludes with named kṛcchra austerities—Māhendra, Bhāskara, Śāntapana—defined by sequences of milk/curd/fasting and tithi–weekday constraints, presenting ascetic discipline as a structured, results-oriented dharmic science.