History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.93

v6.c81.93

The other secondary meaning of *vrata* seems to be *upavāsa* (i e Yajamāna's passing the night in the Darśa-iṣṭi and the Pūrṇamāsa-iṣṭi near the Gārhapatya and other fires, or reducing his intake of food or fasting) "that he performs *upavāsa* in Darśa and Pūrṇamāsa iṣṭis is so because the gods do not partake of the offering made by one who has not undergone *vrata*, therefore he undergoes upavāsa with the thought 'the gods may partake of my offering'" (Ait Br. VII 11)⁵⁰