Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 446
उपवासफलात्मकविधिः — Upavāsa as Yajña-Equivalent Merit
Angiras Teaching
चत्वारिंशत् सहस््राणि वर्षाणां दिवि मोदते । वह चक्रवाकोंद्वारा वहन किये हुए विमानसे स्वर्गलोकमें जाता है और वहाँ चालीस हजार वर्षोतक आनन्द भोगता है
catvāriṁśat sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṁ divi modate |
Aṅgiras said: “He rejoices in heaven for forty thousand years.” In context, the verse underscores the karmic fruit of a meritorious act: righteous conduct and prescribed charity/service can lead to prolonged heavenly enjoyment, presented as an ethical incentive within dharma-teaching.
अंगियरा उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys the doctrine of karma-phala: a specific righteous or meritorious act yields a definite reward, here expressed as prolonged enjoyment in heaven, encouraging adherence to dharma.
Aṅgiras is describing the result of a prior meritorious deed, stating that the beneficiary attains heaven and enjoys there for forty thousand years.