History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.102.1

v6.c81.102.1

A great deal of discussion is found in the medieval digests on a comprehensive definition of vrata Śabara⁵⁵ on Jai. VI 2. 20 arrives at the conclusion that by vrata is meant a mental activity, which is a resolve in the form "I shall not do this" and gives as an illustration the sentence 'one should not see the rising or setting sun'. Medhātithi on Manu IV. 13 seems to accept this The Agnpurāṇa⁵⁶ provides 'a restrictive rule declared by the śāstras is called vrata, which is also regarded as tapas; restraint of senses and other rules are but special incidents of vrata, vrata is called tapas because it causes hardship to the performer (of the vrata) and it is also called *niyama* since there-in one has to restrain the several organs of sense'. Manu II. 3 declares⁵⁷ 'resolve is the root of desires, of sacrifices, of vratas and the characteristics called yamas—all are known to spring from resolve'. But every *saṅkalpa* entertained by any person whatever is not and cannot be called vrata. It may be noted that the Amarakośa holds⁵⁸ that the words 'niyama' and 'vrata' are synonyms and that the latter consists of fast and the like that produce merit (*puṇya*), while the Āp. Dh S. I 2, 57 remarks that the word *tapas* is applied to the rules of conduct prescribed for a brahmacārin ('niyameṣu tapaḥśabdaḥ'). The Mitākṣarā⁵⁹ on Yāj I. 129 appears to indicate that vrata is a mental resolve to do something or refrain from doing something, both being enjoined as duties.