History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.33

v3.c40.33

Various rules are laid down as to how much one is to eat. Two famous verses quoted by Āp. Dh. S. II. 4. 9. 13, Vas. Dh. S. VI. 20-21 and Baud. Dh. S. II. 7. 31-32 are 'an ascetic should eat eight morsels,¹⁸³⁴ a forest hermit 16, a householder 32 and a Vedic student an unlimited number. One who has consecrated the Vedic fires, a draught ox and a brahmacārin are able to perform their work by eating, they cannot perform work when they do not eat'.¹⁸³⁵ Āp. Dh. S. II. 4. 9. 12 expressly directs that a householder should not stint himself as to food, so that he may be able to properly perform his work. Haradatta explains that the general rule laid down by Āp. Dh. S. itself (II. 1. 1. 2) that one should take only two meals a day does not apply to one who has consecrated the Vedic fires. Baud. Dh. S. II. 7. 33-34 goes further¹⁸³⁶ and says that if a householder (who is *āhitāgni*) and a Vedic student practise austerities by observing a fast they are guilty of sin, because they thereby cause cessation of agnihotra to the life-breaths. But there is no sin if a fast is observed by these as a penance for some lapse. Śabara on Jaimini V. 1. 20 (p. 1301) appears to favour the idea that an *āhitāgni* may eat several¹⁸³⁷ times a day.