Shloka 17
Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Ātma-saṃyama (Marks of Social Conduct and Self-Restraint) | वर्णलक्षणम् एवं आत्मसंयमः
समुन्नमग्रतो वस्त्र पश्चाच्छुध्यति कर्मणा । उपवासै: प्रतप्तानां दीर्घ सुखमनन्तकम्,जैसे पहलेसे क्षार आदिमें भिगोया हुआ कपड़ा पीछे धोनेसे साफ हो जाता है, उसी प्रकार जो उपवासपूर्वक तपस्या करते हैं, उन्हें कभी समाप्त न होनेवाला महान् सुख मिलता है
samunnam agrato vastraṁ paścāc chudhyati karmaṇā | upavāsaiḥ prataptānāṁ dīrghaṁ sukham anantakam ||
قال بهيشما: «كما أن الثوب إذا نُقِع أولًا في مواد قلوية ثم طُهِّر بعد ذلك بالغَسل، كذلك الذين يمارسون التقشّف وقد ألهبتهم الصيامات ينالون سعادة عظيمة—طويلة الأمد لا انقطاع لها.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fasting undertaken as disciplined austerity (tapas) purifies the practitioner and yields enduring, even ‘endless,’ well-being; purification is presented as a process—preparation plus sustained effort—like washing a pre-treated cloth.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising by using a household analogy (cloth cleaned after being treated) to explain how ascetic practices—especially fasting—lead to inner purification and lasting happiness.