Adhyaya 198
Monthly Vows (Māsa-vratāni) and Cāturmāsya Disciplines; Introduction of Kaumudī-vrata
火神阿耆尼阐明 māsa-vrata（按月之誓戒）为一套严整修持，能同时成就 bhukti（世间福乐）与 mukti（解脱）。本章先说 Cāturmāsya 式的四月斋戒规约，尤重在神圣四个月中戒除以油涂身；继而分月列举应舍之事与布施 dāna，如在 Vaiśākha 月施舍母牛，在 Māgha 或 Caitra 月供献“糖蜜之牛”（jaggery-cow）。又将饮食与行为苦行（nakta-bhojana 夜食、ekabhakta 一餐、果食誓、隔日断食、守默、cāndrāyaṇa、prājāpatya）与层级果报相连：得天界、至 Viṣṇuloka，乃至趋向解脱之功德。誓戒以 saṅkalpa（立愿）与历法定位而圆满：为 Cāturmāsya 预备，于太阳入 Karkaṭa（巨蟹宫）时礼拜 Hari，并祈愿纵使中途身亡亦计为已满愿。章末介绍 Āśvina 月的 Kaumudī-vrata：于 Dvādaśī 日以花、灯、酥油与芝麻油供养毗湿奴，持诵“Om namo Vāsudevāya”，许诺成就四种 puruṣārtha（人生四义）。
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Frequently Asked Questions
Renunciation of oil-anointing (abhyanga/taila-tyāga) during the four months beginning with Āṣāḍha, paired with dawn-bathing and devotion to Hari.
It repeatedly couples renunciation/fasting with formal gifts—especially go-dāna and guḍa-dhenu—presenting donation as the outward completion of inner restraint and a generator of merit and higher worlds.
The Kaumudī-vrata (Āśvina) is introduced: on Dvādaśī, worship Viṣṇu with lotus-type flowers, offer lamp and naivedya using ghee and sesame-oil, and recite ‘Om namo Vāsudevāya’.
By mapping regulated conduct (niyama), calendrical worship, and charitable giving to tangible outcomes (bhukti) while explicitly promising Viṣṇuloka/Vaikuṇṭha and liberation-oriented fruits (mukti), culminating in the fourfold puruṣārtha attainment through Kaumudī-vrata.