History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c75.317

v5.c75.317

Fast, *vide* 'upavāsa'; all religions (except Zoroastrianism) emphasize as a discipline the necessity of 54: f. for a day is the penance for omitting rites ordained by Veda or for neglecting duties of a snātaka 53; Gautama includes f. under *tapas* 52, Mlecchas even think highly of f., according to Mahābhārata 51; observer of, had to give up certain actions such as chewing tāmbūla 53; Sāntiparva says that merely emaciating body by f is not tapas 54