History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.357.3

v6.c81.357.3

86) under Rāmanavamī applies Ekādaśīvrata on the ekādaśīs of both fortnights is *nitya* only for persons other than householders, the vrata is obligatory for householders (gṛhastha) only on the ekādaśī of the bright half, but not on the ekādaśī of the dark half, since Devala says ‘one should not eat (cooked) food on ekādaśī in both pakṣas (fortnights); this is the rule of conduct for forest hermits and ascetics, but a householder should always observe only the Ekādaśī of the bright half'.²⁴⁰ There are conflicting texts on this subject. The Padma says²⁴¹ 'a householder should observe a fast on only the dark ekādaśīs between Śayanī (Āṣāḍha śu. 11) and Bodhinī (Kārtika śu 11) and on no other ekādaśī of the dark half'. There is a precept of Nārada²⁴² 'a householder having a son should not observe a fast on a Saṅkrānti day, on the day of ekādaśī in the dark half and on eclipses of the sun and the moon'.