Viṣṇudharmāḥ 1.26

Non-attainment of sovereignty and the like, O best of the twice-born,
is not such a sorrow
as the loss born of the destruction of dharma
after wishes have been obtained.

Tell me that, O brahmin sage, by which
a man, or a woman, does not incur
a fall through the exhaustion of merit
from sovereignty, from wealth,

from offspring, from the world of the gods,
or from another desired state;
for a fall from these is indeed sorrow.

This is true, O noble one:
the loss of what has been attained,
whether of sovereignty, wealth,
or the happiness of family, is sorrow.

Hear this then, O Dālbhya,
how there is completely no fall
from creation and the rest, as desired,
for good people who observe fasting.

O brahmin sage, the twelve lunar mansions
that occur month by month—
in them the wise person should properly worship the infallible [Lord]
with their names,

with flowers, incenses, and waters,
and other desired offerings,
having made Kṛttikā the first
in Kārttika, O foremost among sages.

For the first four months, starting with Kārttika,
he should offer boiled rice and pulses
as an oblation of food;
and after that, sweet barley cake.

And starting in Āṣāḍha,
he should offer rice-milk to the god.
With that very same food, O brahmin sage,
the wise man should feed the brahmins.

Bathed with water containing the five products of the cow,
pure from the sipping of that very [mixture],
he should himself eat the oblation
at night, after the infallible [Lord] has been worshipped.

Thus at the end of the year,
when the infallible [Lord] has awoken from sleep,
having properly worshipped him,
the Supreme Puruṣa himself, O brahmin sage,
the wise man, bathed and pure according to rule,
having bowed, should pray:

Obeisance, obeisance to you, O Acyuta! May there be the destruction
of sin; may merit attain increase;
may sovereignty, wealth, and the like be imperishable for me always,
and may my lineage be imperishable and infallible!

Just as you, O Infallible One, are beyond the beyond,
beyond that which has become Brahman, the supreme self,
so make infallible the state that is desired
by me, O dispeller of sins, O immeasurable one!

O Acyuta, O Ananta, O Govinda,
be pleased! Whatever is desired,
make that imperishable,
O immeasurable-souled one, O Supreme Puruṣa!

Having thus worshipped him at the end,
and likewise having prayed for blessings
according to rule, O tiger among sages,
a man does not incur a fall.

A man does not fall from lineage,
from heaven, wealth, and the like,
or likewise from sovereignty, O sage,
or whatever is most desired.

Therefore, with every effort,
one who desires the imperishable should always strive
in the worship of the monthly lunar mansions,
O foremost among sages.