Adhyaya 204
Chapter 204 — मासोपवासव्रतम् (The Vow of Month-long Fasting)
火神阿耆尼向圣者婆悉吒传授“月期断食誓”(māsopavāsa-vrata)，称其为最殊胜之誓：须在行毗湿奴派祭祀之后，并得上师许可方可受持。行者先以预备苦行（如kṛcchra等）量度自身能力；其资格亦扩展至林居者（vānaprastha）、出家苦行者及妇女，明言包括寡妇。此誓于阿湿毗那月明半开始，先守持一日十一斋（Ekādaśī），继而三十日不断，视为礼敬毗湿奴直至其“起觉/苏醒”(Utthāna)。持誓者每日三次行毗湿奴供养（Viṣṇu-pūjā），三次沐浴，奉献供品，诵念与禅观，并严守言语、离执与接触/行为之禁戒。至十二日（Dvādaśī）以礼拜、供养婆罗门、施与供养金(dakṣiṇā)并如法行破斋(pāraṇa)而圆满。章中列举规范布施（尤以十三件为一组），并许诺功德：净化身心、提升家族世系、得生毗湿奴界(Viṣṇuloka)；若行者昏厥，慈悲开许饮乳与酥油(ghee)，视为婆罗门认可之祭供(havis)。
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is undertaken in the bright fortnight of Āśvina, after fasting on Ekādaśī, and is maintained for up to thirty days, oriented toward worship of Viṣṇu until his Utthāna.
After assessing personal capacity via austerities like kṛcchra, the vow is prescribed for vānaprasthas, ascetics (yatis), and women—explicitly including widows.
Thrice-daily worship of Viṣṇu, triple bathing, offering fragrance and flowers, recitation of Viṣṇu hymns/praises, and meditation, accompanied by restraints on speech and desire for gain.
The vow is completed by worship, feeding brāhmaṇas on Dvādaśī, giving dakṣiṇā and prescribed gifts, and then performing pāraṇa—the regulated, proper breaking of the fast.
No. The chapter states that milk and ghee given to a fainting vow-holder do not violate the vow, as they are treated as havis (an oblation) approved by brāhmaṇas.