व्रत [ vrata ] [ vratá ] n. (ifc. f ( [ ā ] ) . ; fr. √ 2. [ vṛ ] ) will , command , law , ordinance , rule Lit. RV.

obedience , service Lit. ib. Lit. AV. Lit. ĀśvGṛ.

dominion , realm Lit. RV.

sphere of action , function , mode or , manner of life (e.g. [ śuci-vr ] , " pure manner of life " Lit. Śak.) , conduct , manner , usage , custom Lit. RV.

a religious vow or practice , any pious observance , meritorious act of devotion or austerity , solemn vow , rule , holy practice (as fasting , continence ; [ vratáṃ-√ car ] , " to observe a vow " , esp. " to practise chastity " ) Lit. ib.

any vow or firm purpose , resolve to (dat. loc. , or comp. ; [ vratāt ] or [ vrata-vaśāt ] , " in consequence of a vow " ; cf. [ asi-dhārā-vrata ] and [ āsidhāraṃ vratam ] ) Lit. MBh. Lit. Kāv.

the practice of always eating the same food ( cf. [ madhu-vr ] ) Lit. L.

the feeding only on milk (as a fast or observance according to rule ; also the milk itself) Lit. VS. Lit. Br. Lit. KātyŚr.

any food ( in [ a-yācita-vr ] q.v.)

= [ mahā-vrata ] (i.e. a partic. Stotra , and the day for it) Lit. Br. Lit. ŚrS. ;

( with gen. or ifc.) N. of Sāmans Lit. ĀrshBr. ( Lit. L. also " month " ; season ; year ; fire ; " = Vishṇu " ; " N. of one of the seven islands of Antara-dvīpa " )

[ vrata ] m. (of unknown meaning) Lit. AV. v , 1 , 7 Lit. ĀpŚr. xiii , 16 , 8

N. of a son of Manu and Naḍvalā Lit. BhP.

(pl.) N. of a country belonging to Prācya Lit. L.

mfn. = [ veda-vrata ] , one who has taken the vow of learning the Veda Lit. Gṛihyās. ii , 3 (Sch.)