Matsyapurana 101.3

101.3

śivarūpastato 'smābhiḥ śivaloke sa modate
etaddevavrataṃ nāma mahāpātakanāśanam //

The ordinance, known as, (1) Deva-Vrata, is the dispeller of all sins. The observer of it should have his meal only in the night for a year, after which he should give away one cow, quoit and trident, all made of gold, along with a pair of clothes, to a Brâhmaṇa having a large family. One who does so becomes unified with Śiva and lives in His region.—2-3.