for them by persons conversant with and observant of duties. That
man of wisdom who, with his senses and soul under control, O Bharata,
fasts, by abstaining from one of the two meals, on the fifth and the
sixth days of the moon as also on the day of the full moon, becomes
endured with forgiveness and beauty of person and conversance with the
scriptures. Such a person never becomes childless and poor. He who
performs sacrifices for adoring the deities on the fifth and sixth days
of the moon, transcends all the members of his family and succeeds in
feeding a large number of Brahmanas. He who observes fasts on the eighth
and the fourteenth days of the dark fortnight, becomes freed from
maladies of every kind and possessed of great energy. The man who
abstains from one meal every day throughout the month called Margasirsha,
should, with reverence and devotion, feed a number of Brahmanas. By so
doing he becomes freed from all his sins. Such a man becomes endued with
prosperity, and all kinds of grain become his. He becomes endued with
energy. In fact, such a person reaps an abundance of harvest from his
fields, acquires great wealth and much corn. That man, O son of Kunti,
who passes the whole month of Pausha, abstaining every day from one of
two meals, becomes endued with good fortune and agreeable features and
great fame. He who passes the whole month of Magha, abstaining every day
from one of the two meals, takes birth in a high family and attains to a
position of eminence among his kinsmen. He who passes the whole month of
Bhagadaivata, confining himself every day to only one meal becomes a
favourite with women who, indeed, readily own his sway. He who passes the
whole of the month of Chaitra, confining himself every day to one meal,
takes birth in a high family and becomes rich in gold, gems, and pearls.
The person, whether male or female, who passes the month of Vaisakha,
confining himself or herself every day to one meal, and keeping his or
her senses under control, succeeds in attaining to a position of eminence
among kinsmen. The person who passes the month of Jyaishtha confining
himself every day to one meal a day, succeeds in attaining to a position
of eminence and great wealth. If a woman, she reaps the same reward. He
who passes the month of Ashadha confining himself to one meal a day and
with senses steadily concentrated upon his duties, becomes possessed of
much corn, great wealth, and a large progeny. He who pas