Shloka 8
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
वैशाखमासे द्वादश्यां पूजयन् मधुसूदनम् । अग्निष्टोममवाप्रोति सोमलोकं च गच्छति,वैशाखमासकी द्वादशी तिथिको उपवासपूर्वक भगवान् मधुसूदनका पूजन करनेवाला पुरुष अग्निष्टोम यज्ञका फल पाता और सोमलोकमें जाता है
vaiśākhamāse dvādaśyāṃ pūjayan madhusūdanam | agniṣṭomam avāpnoti somalokaṃ ca gacchati ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Wer am Dvādaśī im Monat Vaiśākha, im Fasten des Gelübdes, Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) verehrt, erlangt ein Verdienst wie beim Agniṣṭoma-Opfer und gelangt in Somas Bereich.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sincere devotional worship of Vishnu (Madhusūdana), performed on an auspicious tithi with self-restraint such as fasting, can yield merit comparable to a major Vedic sacrifice (Agniṣṭoma), indicating an inclusive dharmic path where inner devotion and disciplined observance can substitute for expensive ritual performance.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he describes the spiritual fruit of a specific observance: worshipping Madhusūdana on Vaiśākha Dvādaśī. He states the promised result—Agniṣṭoma-like merit and ascent to Somaloka—thereby recommending the vrata as a powerful religious practice.