Shloka 10
श्रीशक्रसंवादः — The Dialogue of Śrī
Lakṣmī) and Śakra (Indra
भीष्य उवाच अन्तरा प्रातराशं च सायमाशं तथैव च । सदोपवासी स भवेद् यो न भुदुक्तेडन्तरा पुन:
bhīṣma uvāca | antarā prātarāśaṃ ca sāyamāśaṃ tathaiva ca | sadopavāsī sa bhaved yo na bhuṅkte ’ntarā punaḥ ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—হে যুধিষ্ঠির! যে প্রতিদিন কেবল প্রাতে এবং কেবল সায়ংকালে আহার করে, আর মাঝখানে আর কিছুই খায় না, তাকে নিত্য উপবাসী বলে গণ্য করতে হয়।
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma defines a practical form of continual fasting: limiting oneself to two regulated meals (morning and evening) and avoiding any eating in between, emphasizing restraint and disciplined living as a dharmic practice.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira, Bhishma explains norms of conduct and austerity; here he clarifies what counts as being ‘always fasting’ by giving a concrete behavioral definition.