The Vedas address God as “Vratapate” the keeper, the father of all vows. Vows are not taken lightly in Vedic Dharma. When we undertake a vow, it is literal and spiritual – and – a vow is undertaken only by accepting that the bond of that vow is being kept by God alone.

The Yajur Veda has a principal verse on Vows in the very first chapter, fifth verse. In this mantra a devotee promises to uphold, speak and spread truth and to dispel ignorance and falsehood. The Gobhil Grihyasutras also has five verses addressing the undertaking of vows in the presence of the eternal God and the everpresent nature (fire, wind, sun and moon). Here are the verses:

अग्ने व्रतपते व्रतं च॑रिष्यामि तच्छकेयं तन्मे राध्यताम्।
इदमहमनृतात् सत्यमुपैमि
अग्ने व्रतपते व्रतं चरिष्यामि तच् छकेयं तन् मे राध्यताम् ।
इदम् अहम् अनृतात् सत्यम् उपैमि ॥

Agne vratapate vratam chariṣhyaami
Tach-chhakeyam tan me raadhyataam.
Idam aham anritaat satyam upaimi. (Yajur Veda 1.5)

O Supreme Almighty Lord, to you I place this vow; you are the overseer, the keeper of vows. I give this undertaking to uphold truth and reject falsehood. May I be blessed to keep this promise and never fail to uphold truth and dispel ignorance and falsehood.

अग्ने Supreme God, fire, upholder of truth व्रतपते observer/keeper of all vows व्रतम् this vow of mine; speak, believe and do truth चरिष्यामि and not being broken; and not fail तत्त that, you शकेयम् तच्छकेयम् that wish or desire, that being strived after तेन by that तत् you मे mine राध्यताम् to be accomplished or performed इदम् this अहम् me, I अनृत falsehood, untruth सत्यम truth उपैमि I undertake

The Vratapate Mantras of the Upanayan Sankaara

These mantras are used when undertaking a vrat (solemn vow). These verses form part of the Upanayana Sanskaara and provide a medium for taking a solemn oath while asking God for protection from negative forces and negative thoughts. (From the Mantra/Chandogya Braahmana, 1.6.9–13; Gobhil Grihyasutra – Upanayan)

ॐ अग्ने व्रतपते व्रतं चरिष्यामि
तत्ते प्रब्रवीमि तच्छकेयम्।
तेनर्ध्यासमिदमहमनृतात्सत्यमुपैमि स्वाहा।।
ॐ इदमग्ने इदन्न मम।।

Om agne vratapate vratam chariṣhyaami
tatte prabraveemi tach-chha-ke-yam.
Tena-adhyaa-samidam-aham-anritaat
satyam-upaimi svaahaa.
Idam agnaye idanna mama.

ॐ वायो व्रतपते व्रतं चरिष्यामि
तत्ते प्रब्रवीमि तच्छकेयम्।
तेनर्ध्यासमिदमहमनृतात्सत्यमुपैमि स्वाहा।।
ॐ इदं वायवे इदन्न मम।।

Om vaayo vratapate vratam chariṣhyaami
tatte prabraveemi tach-chha-ke-yam.
Tena-adhyaa-samidam-aham-anritaat
satyam-upaimi svaahaa.
Idam vaayave idanna mama.

 ॐ सूर्य व्रतपते व्रतं चरिष्यामि
तत्ते प्रब्रवीमि तच्छकेयम्।
तेनर्ध्यासमिदमहमनृतात्सत्यमुपैमि स्वाहा।।
ॐ इदं सूर्याय इदन्न मम।।

Om soorya vratapate vratam chariṣhyaami
tatte prabraveemi tach-chha-ke-yam.
Tena-adhyaa-samidam-aham-anritaat
satyam-upaimi svaahaa.
Idam sooryaaya idanna mama.

ॐ चंद्र व्रतपते व्रतं चरिष्यामि
तत्ते प्रब्रवीमि तच्छकेयम्।
तेनर्ध्यासमिदमहमनृतात्सत्यमुपैमि स्वाहा।।
ॐ इदं चन्द्राय इदन्न मम।। 

Om Chandra vratapate vratam chariṣhyaami
tatte prabraveemi tach-chha-ke-yam.
Tena-adhyaa-samidam-aham-anritaat
satyam-upaimi svaahaa.
Idam chandraaya idanna mama.

ॐ व्रतानां व्रतपते व्रतं चरिष्यामि
तत्ते प्रब्रवीमि तच्छकेयम्।
तेनर्ध्यासमिदमहमनृतात्सत्यमुपैमि स्वाहा।।
ॐ इदमिन्द्राय इदन्न मम।। 

Om vrataanaam vratapate vratam chariṣhyaami
tatte prabraveemi tach-chha-ke-yam.
Tena-adhyaa-samidam-aham-anritaat
satyam-upaimi svaahaa.
Idam indraaya vratapataye idanna mama.

O Lord You are Agne – the eternal; vaayve – the impelling force, soorya – the light of the universe, Chandra – the dispeller of darkness, vrataanaam – lord of laws. You are Vratapate, the lord of laws and vows. I take a (vrat) vow which I will fulfill through my daily conduct. This vow (te prabraveemi) I wholeheartedly accept and take before you.
O Lord, (shakeyam) give me strength to observe this vrat.
And, (tena) while observing my vow, may I (rishyaasam) remain safe from (amritaat) falsehood while steadfastly moving (satyam) toward truth. May I achieve the highest truth. This is my prayer.
(Idam) This prayer is for the continuous divine guidance for all. This is not for personal gain.

अग्ने Supreme God, fire वायु wind, air सूर्य sun चंद्र moon व्रतानाम् caused by vow व्रतपते observer/keeper of all vows व्रतम् this vow of mine च and चरिष्यामि and not being broken; and not fail तत्ते that प्रब्रवीमि praise, teach तच्छकेयम् that wish or desire, that being strived after तेन by that अध्यासन act of participating/sitting into इदम् this, now अहम् I, me अनृत falsehood, untruth सत्यम truth उपैमि I undertake