Fasting

 

 

Srimad Bhagavatam purport 1:12:20.

TRANSLATION
This child will be a munificent donor of charity and protector of the surrendered, like the famous King Sibi of the Usinara country. And he will expand the name and fame of his family like Bharata, the son of Mahäräja Dusyanta.

PURPORT
A king becomes famous by his acts of charity, performances of yajïas, protection of the surrendered, etc. A ksatriya king is proud to give protection to the surrendered souls. This attitude of a king is called isvara-bhava, or factual power to give protection in a righteous cause. In the Bhagavad-gétä the Lord instructs living beings to surrender unto Him, and He promises all protection. The Lord is all-powerful and true to His word, and therefore He never fails to give protection to His different devotees. The king, being the representative of the Lord, must possess this attitude of giving protection to the surrendered souls at all risk. Mahäräja Sibi, the King of Usénara, was an intimate friend of Mahäräja Yayäti, who was able to reach the heavenly planets along with Mahäräja Sibi. Mahäräja Sibi was aware of the heavenly planet where he was to be transferred after his death, and the description of this heavenly planet is given in the Mahäbhärata (Ädi-parva 96.6–9). Mahäräja Sibi was so charitably disposed that he wanted to give over his acquired position in the heavenly kingdom to Yayäti, but he did not accept it. Yayäti went to the heavenly planet along with great åñis like Añöaka and others. On inquiry from the åñis, Yayäti gave an account of Sibi’s pious acts when all of them were on the path to heaven. He has become a member of the assembly of Yamaräja, who has become his worshipful deity. As confirmed in the Bhagavad-gétä, the worshiper of the demigods goes to the planets of the demigods (yänti deva-vratä devän [Bg. 9.25]); so Mahäräja Sibi has become an associate of the great Vaiñëava authority Yamaräja on that particular planet. While he was on the earth he became very famous as a protector of surrendered souls and a donor of charities. The King of heaven once took the shape of a pigeon-hunter bird (eagle), and Agni, the fire-god, took the shape of a pigeon. The pigeon, while being chased by the eagle, took shelter on the lap of Mahäräja Sibi, and the hunter eagle wanted the pigeon back from the King. The King wanted to give it some other meat to eat and requested the bird not to kill the pigeon. The hunter bird refused to accept the King’s offer, but it was settled later on that the eagle would accept flesh from the body of the King of the pigeon’s equivalent weight. The King began to cut flesh from his body to weigh in the balance equivalent to the weight of the pigeon, but the mystic pigeon always remained heavier. The King then put himself on the balance to equate with the pigeon, and the demigods were pleased with him. The King of heaven and the fire-god disclosed their identity, and the King was blessed by them. Devarñi Närada also glorified Mahäräja Sibi for his great achievements, specifically in charity and protection. Mahäräja Sibi sacrificed his own son for the satisfaction of human beings in his kingdom. And thus child Parékñit was to become a second Sibi in charity and protection.
Dauñyanti Bharata: There are many Bharatas in history, of which Bharata the brother of Lord Räma, Bharata the son of King Åñabha, and Bharata the son of Mahäräja Duñyanta are very famous. And all these Bharatas are historically known to the universe. This earth planet is known as Bhärata, or Bhärata-varña, due to King Bharata the son of Åñabha, but according to some this land is known as Bhärata due to the reign of the son of Duñyanta. So far as we are convinced, this land’s name Bhärata-varña was established from the reign of Bharata the son of King Åñabha. Before him the land was known as Ilävati-varña, but just after the coronation of Bharata, the son of Åñabha, this land became famous as Bhärata-varña.
But despite all this, Bharata, the son of Mahäräja Duñyanta was not less important. He is the son of the famous beauty Sakuntalä. Mahäräja Duñyanta fell in love with Sakuntalä in the forest, and Bharata was conceived. After that, Mahäräja forgot his wife Sakuntalä by the curse of Kaëva Muni, and the child Bharata was brought up in the forest by his mother. Even in his childhood he was so powerful that he challenged the lions and elephants in the forest and would fight with them as little children play with cats and dogs. Because of the boy’s becoming so strong, more than the so-called modern Tarzan, the åñis in the forest called him Sarvadaman, or one who is able to control everyone. A full description of Mahäräja Bharata is given in the Mahäbhärata, Ädi-parva. The Päëòavas, or the Kurus, are sometimes addressed as Bhärata due to being born in the dynasty of the famous Mahäräja Bharata, the son of King Duñyanta.

Morning Walk. June 7th 1976. Los Angeles

Rämesvara: On the calendar it says it is Bhéma-ekädasé.
Prabhupäda: Bhéma-ekädasé, yes.
Rämesvara: So I’ve been told that if one fasts on Bhéma-ekädasé, that it is like fasting on all the ekädasés. Is that true?
Prabhupäda: Yes. Ekädasé is meant for fasting, either Bhéma or Arjuna. But we cannot fast, therefore we have to take little fruits and…. Otherwise, ekädasé means fasting.
Tamäla Kåñëa: If it is possible, should we go without eating at all?
Prabhupäda: Yes. But don’t lie down and sleep.
Mahendra: Eating mahä-prasädam is also fasting.
Prabhupäda: Who says?
Mahendra: You said that to Paramahaàsa Swami once.
Prabhupäda: And you heard from Paramahaàsa.
Mahendra: No, I was in the room. It was when he was trying to observe Caturmäsya.
Prabhupäda: I never said that.
Mahendra: Oh, okay, I must have heard wrong.
Prabhupäda: If there is service and, on my fasting, service will be stopped, then I can take. First consideration, service. Now if somebody feels weak, he can take mahä-prasäda, render service.
Rämesvara: That priest that has now become your disciple, he’s joining Satsvarüpa Mahäräja’s party. He’s very interested, and Satsvarüpa Mahäräja has said he would like him to come to travel together and study.
Prabhupäda: Very good.

( ACBSP. Morning Walk. June 7th 1976. Los Angeles)

Fasting:

“One who is physically unable to fast on Ekadasi may read the glories of each Ekadasi when it occurs and recite all the names of the Ekadasis; thus he will achieve the same goal as the person who observes the full Ekadasi vow.”

Whether one is a Vaisnava or a Saivite, everyone should fast on Ekadasi day.

EKA BHUKTENA NAKTENA BALA VRDDHA ATURAH KSIPET
PAYO MULA PHALAIR VAPI NA NIRDVAD ASIKO BHAVET
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/91 from MARKANDEYA PURANA)
A child, an old man or a person unable to fast can take something to eat in the evening or once in the day, whether it be milk, fruit or water, but should properly follow the Ekadasi fast. One should not give up fasting on Ekadasi.

VYADHIBHIK PARIBHUTANAM PITTA ADHIKA SARIRINAM
TRINSAD VARSADHIKANAN CA NAKTA-ADI PRIKALPANAM
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/93 from BAUDHAYANA SMRTI)
Any person who is diseased, or who is dominated by bile or who has aged more than thirty years (after householder life), they are advised to eat in the evening on the Ekadasi day.

Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks, “Aging more than thirty years means after household life ends. This is understood to be around sixty years of age, so thirty years added to that is ninety years.” Furthermore, “One should go to the forest at the ate of fifty”. According to this statement, a grhastha’s life is said to be fifty years, that is he has decided to live in his family life until the age of fifty. Even then, if one adds thirty years, if becomes approximately eighty years. Therefore, fasting is recommended until a minimum age of eighty (actually it means throughout life).

ASTA ETANY AVRTAGHNANI APO MULAM PHALAM PAYAH
HAVIR DVADASI KAMYA CA GUROR VACANAM AUSADHAM
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/100 from MAHABHARATA, UDYOGA PARVA)
Water, fruits, roots, milk, ghee, the request of a Dvadasi, the order of a spiritual master and medicine do not wane one’s fast.

Never eat grains on Ekadasi

It is stated in the Padma Purana:

bhuyo-bhuyo drdha vani sryatam syata janah
na bhoktavyam na bhoktavyam na bhoktavyam harer dine

“O human beings, please listen, I tell you repeatedly with steadfast determination, please never eat any grains on the Day of Lord Hari (Ekadasi day, the Lord’s appearance day like Janmastami day etc.). Please never eat any food grains even by mistake on the Day of Lord Harl. Please do not eat grains on the Day of Lord Hari even if forced or compelled to do so.”

The reason to not eat food grains on Ekadasi is stated in the Vrihan Naradiya Purana thus:

yani kani ca papani brahma hatyadikani ca
annam asritya tiathanti samprapte hari vasare

“Every type of sin in this world, including the grievous sin of killing a Brahmana, reside in food grains on the Day of Lord Hari (Ekadasi and other fasting days). If grains are eaten on fasting days sins enter the body of that human being.”

The Hari Bhakti Vilasa states:

brahmacari grhastho va vanaprastho ‘thava yatih
ekadasyam hi bhunjano bhukte go-mamsam eva hi

“Whether a person is Brahmachari (unmarried celibate student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprasthi (retired, elderly), Sanyasi (renounced person) or any other social order, if they eat food grains on Ekadasi, they acquire the same sin as that received by eating cow’s meat.”

The Skanda Purana also states:

matr ha pitr has caiva bhratr ha guru has tatha
ekadasyas tu ya bhunkte visnu-lokac cyuto bhavet

“Those who eat grains on Ekadasi and on the Day of Lord Hari (including Janmastami, Gaura Purnima etc.) obtain the sin equal to killing one’s own mother, own father, own brother and own Guru; and they cannot reach the spiritual world, which is why one should never eat grains on fasting days.”

One may think or say that fasting on Ekadasi days and the Lord’s appearance days are meant only for Vaisnava devotees and not for worshippers of Lord Siva or Durga etc. But the Padma Purana informs such people:

na saiva na ca saurohasaun na sakta gana sevakah
yo bhunkte vasare visnor jneyah pasvadiko hi sah

“Whether one is a follower of Lord Siva, the goddess Durga, Kali, Surya (sungod), Ganesa, Bhairava or any other demigod, they should avoid eating grains on the fasting days of Lord Hari (Ekadasis and other fasting days of Lord Hari). If one does not rigidly follow this rule and eats grains on fasting days they are considered worse than an animal.”

The Vrihan Naradiya Purana states:

brahma-hatyadi papanam kathancin niskrtir bhavet
ekadasyat tu yo bhunkte niskrtir nasti kutracit

“By rigidly following religious and ritualistic processes one may become free from grievous sin like killing a Brahmana, but it is impossible to eliminate the sins of those who eat grains on Ekadasi days.”

Never Eat Grains on EkadasiIt is written in the Skanda Purana that Lord Yamaraja (superintendent of hell) told his messengers not even to go near the immediate three generations of those who fast on Ekadasi days, even if they are lowborn and full of sin. But even if a pious person is learned in the four Vedas and performs rituals and is pure, but eats grains on Ekadasi days, they must be taken to hell to suffer. (The correct Ekadasi days are calculated each year and printed as a calendar and can be gotten upon request). If grain filled prasadam is given to a person on a fasting day it should be kept for consumption on the next day, but should not be consumed on the fasting day. Only fruits, roots (such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, tapioca, sago etc.) water, milk products, nuts, rock salt, Singhara flour, Kutu flower, Sama Rice (found in the Indian grocery stores) and prescribed medicines can be consumed on fasting days. Fasting on Ekadasis began in Satyayuga and everyone followed fasting rules then.

[Sri Krsna Balaram Swamiji, Bhakti Bhajan Mala Introduction, KBS0046]

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