History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.357.4

v6.c81.357.4

The best construction of these passages appears to be that a fast only on the ekādaśī of the bright half is obligatory for a householder, but he may observe (Kāmyavrata) a fast on the ekādaśīs occurring in the dark half between Śayanī and Bodhinī, but if he has a son he should not observe a fast even on those ekādaśīs that occur between Śayanī and Bodhinī A widow²⁴³ is to be treated on the same level as a *yati* and a woman whose husband is living should fast only on the ekādaśī of the bright half It has to be further noted that these restrictions²⁴⁴ do not apply to professed devotees of Viṣṇu (technically called Vaiṣṇava) To them the verse quoted in note 238 above applies and they have to observe a fast on all ekādaśīs. Hemādri (on vrata vol. I p. 999) held the view that all persons have *adhikāra* for fasting on ekādaśīs in both pakṣas.