History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.382

v6.c81.382

It is said by Mārkaṇḍeya ²⁵⁵ that one may observe the methods of ekabhakta, nakta, ayācita, complete fast and *dāna*, but should not deprive oneself of the benefits of the observance of dvādaśī (with ekādaśī) Here certain alternatives are allowed in place of an absolute fast and they have to be explained. But before doing so, attention has to be drawn to the rule propounded by Manu ²⁵⁶ viz if a person, being master of (i e. quite able to carry out) the main provisions for a rite, resorts to alternatives provided (by texts) he would not, foolish as he is, secure the otherworldly rewards (of that rite) Therefore, ekabhakta, nakta and ayācita are to be employed only if one is unable to observe a strict fast Ekabhakta means eating only once a day after the middle of the day Madhyāhna means the 3rd part of the day divided into five parts (i e from the 13th ghaṭī after sunrise up to the 18th of a day of 30 ghaṭīs) Hemādri (on kāla p 109) holds that madhyāhna is the middle part of the day divided into three parts and according to him the proper time for ekabhakta is the time immediately after midday, since the Skanda employs the words 'after the middle of the day is passed' (dinārdhasamayātīte),²⁵⁷ while the gauṇa-kāla is up to sunset Works like the Nirṇayāmṛta, Smṛtikaustubha (pp. 9-10) approve of the division into five parts, and hold that ekabhakta means taking food at sometime between the 13th and 18th ghaṭī of the day (of 30 ghaṭīs)²⁵⁸ When ekabhakta is merely an alternative to strict upavāsa on ekādaśī, food must be taken on the tithi on which the fast would have been observed if the performer were able to undergo it. The same²⁵⁹ rule applies to nakta as a substitute for upavāsa.