Shloka 556
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सर्वमेधफलं लभेत् | जो बारह महीनोंतक प्रति बारहवें दिन केवल हविष्यान्न ग्रहण करता है, उसे सर्वमेध यज्ञका फल मिलता है
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai sarva-medha-phalaṁ labhet |
Bhishma sprach: Wer ein volles Jahr lang, zwölf Monate hindurch, regelmäßig die Übung befolgt, an jedem zwölften Tag ausschließlich havishyānna zu sich zu nehmen, erlangt ein Verdienst, das dem Opfer Sarvamedha gleichkommt. Die Lehre hebt hervor, dass anhaltende Selbstzucht und disziplinierte Befolgung Früchte tragen können, die den großen Ritualhandlungen ebenbürtig gepriesen werden, und dass ethische Anstrengung mehr gilt als bloßer äußerer Glanz.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained self-restraint practiced with regularity—here, a year-long observance of taking only havishyānna on each Dvādaśī—can confer merit praised as equal to a major Vedic sacrifice. The verse elevates disciplined ethical practice and purity of conduct as a powerful means of spiritual attainment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and religious observances. This verse occurs within his guidance on vows and austerities, stating the spiritual reward of a specific year-long dietary observance tied to the twelfth day.