History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.73.3

v6.c81.73.3

But in many places in all the Saṁhitās (other than the Ṛgveda) and in the Brāhmaṇas and Upaniṣads generally the ordinary senses of vrata are two, viz (1) religious observance or vow, or restrictions as to food and behaviour when one has undertaken a religious vow, or (2) the special food, that is prescribed for sustenance when a person is engaged in a religious rite or undertaking, such as cow's milk, *yavāgū* (barley gruel) or the mixture of hot milk and curds (called *āmikṣā*) Both meanings of vrata are given by Yāska in his Nirukta³⁹ A few passages from the Saṁhitās and Brāhmaṇas are cited below to illustrate both meanings. For the first meaning, vide the following: T. S II. 5. 5. 6 'this⁴⁰ is his vrata (vow); he should not speak what is untrue, should not eat flesh, should not approach a woman (for sexual intercourse), nor should his apparel be washed with water impregnated with cleansing salt; for, all these things the gods do not do'; T S. V 7. 6. 1⁴¹ 'birds are indeed fire; when one who has performed Agnicayana eats the (flesh of) birds, he would be eating fire and would meet with disaster (or distress); (therefore) he should observe this vrata (not to eat bird's flesh) for a year, for vrata does not extend beyond a year'. The Śāṅkhāyana⁴² Br VI 6 prescribes 'He has to observe the vrata, viz that he should not see the rising sun nor the setting sun'. The Tai Ā. I.