History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.85

v6.c81.85

A few passages from the Vedic Literature may be cited for the second meaning of vrata (food for sustenance &c) mentioned above. The T. S. (VI. 2 5. 1.) remarks⁴⁵ 'he (dīkṣita) observes the vrata taking the milk from one udder, then from two udders, then from three, then from four; this is called *kṣurapavi* (razor-edge) vrata; barley gruel is the vrata of a kṣatriya (when dīkṣita), āmikṣā (hot milk and curds mixed) of a vaiśya ' The Śatapatha Br. provides⁴⁶ that a dīkṣita (one who has undergone the consecration ceremony for a vedic sacrifice) should subsist on milk. In another place the Śatapatha says 'for him he heats *vrata*' (i e. the food or milk). The Ait Br. also provides⁴⁷ that the dīkṣita first takes (the milk) from four udders as vrata on the Upasad days, then from three &c Vide T Ā. II 8⁴⁸ 'milk is the vrata of a brāhmaṇa (sacrificer); yavāgū of a kṣatriya and āmikṣā of a vaiśya