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bath, while offering oblations and while taking meals (42.2.
7). A king was expected to take meals silently in the company
of the Brahmanas (4.2.15). While meditating upon the Sun in
the Hiranyagarbha-Vidhi, a king was to observe silence (13.2.
2). It is but natural that restrictions were laid down on
food and other things for a person observing a vow.
The
Purohita was expected to live on Bilva, fruits, milk, or
clarified butter for seven days prior to the commencement of
the Puá¹£yabhiseka (5.3.3). The Brahmanas were to fast for a
day before commencing the Laghu-laksahoma; they were to fast
even while performing it (30.1.6, 2.1). The Brahman priest
was expected to fast for three days prior to the commencement
of the Kotihoma; he was to live on wild fruits, roots or milk
while performing it; and the other priests were to live on
food fit for sacrifice (havisya) (31.5.5, 7.1,2). Similarly,
the performer of the Brahmakurca-Vidhi was expected to live
for four days on food containing no salt and was to fast on
the day of the performance of that ceremony (38.1.3, 3.3).
The celebrant of the Pasupata-Vrata was to fast on the full-
moon-day and the new-moon-day (40.6.1). The performers of the
Yama-Vrata, Mitra-Vrata and Mrgara-Vrata were expected to eat
food not containing milk and salt, and were not to consume
sami-dhanya (46.1.9-10).
The belief of the people in Destiny or Providence is
reflected at one place where it is said that Fate always
prevails; a man's effort is just a hetu. Between Fate and