A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s7.62

v1.c8.s7.62

"Now then of the eating (or) fasting. And on this point Āshāḷha Sāvayasa, on the one hand, was of opinion that the vow consisted in fasting. For assuredly (he argued), the gods see through the mind of man; they know that, when he enters on this vow he means to sacrifice to them next morning. Therefore all the gods betake themselves to his house, and abide by (him or the fires, upa-vas) in his house: whence this (day) is called upa-vasatha. [7]
Now, as it would even be unbecoming for him to take food, before