Shloka 143

मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity

Devanagari script

उपवासविधिवस्त्वेष विस्तरेण प्रकीर्तित: । नियतेष्वप्रमत्तेषु शौचवत्सु महात्मसु,भारत! नियमशील, सावधान, शौचाचारसे सम्पन्न, महामनस्वी, दम्भ और द्रोहसे रहित, विशुद्ध बुद्धि, अचल और स्थिर स्वभाववाले मनुष्योंके लिये मैंने यह उपवासकी विधि विस्तारपूर्वक बतायी है। इस विषयमें तुम्हें संदेह नहीं करना चाहिये

Transliteration

upavāsavidhivastveṣa vistareṇa prakīrtitaḥ | niyateṣv apramatteṣu śaucavatsu mahātmasu, bhārata! |

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O Bhārata, I have set forth in detail this rule and procedure of fasting. It is meant for great-souled people who are self-restrained, vigilant, and devoted to purity. Therefore, you should not entertain any doubt regarding this teaching.”

Word by Word

• {'upavāsa': 'fasting

• religious abstinence', 'vidhi': 'rule

• injunction', 'vastu': 'matter

• principle', 'eṣa': 'this', 'vistareṇa': 'in detail

• at length', 'prakīrtitaḥ': 'proclaimed

• set forth', 'niyata': 'restrained

• regulated', 'apramatta': 'vigilant

• attentive', 'śaucavat': 'possessing purity

• observing cleanliness (outer and inner)', 'mahātman': 'great-souled

• noble-minded', 'bhārata': 'O descendant of Bharata (address to Yudhiṣṭhira)'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Fasting (upavāsa) is a disciplined dharmic practice whose proper method has been explained in detail, and it is especially suited to people who are self-controlled, vigilant, and committed to purity; one should accept it without doubt when undertaken with such inner qualifications.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he concludes or reinforces his exposition on the procedure of fasting, emphasizing the character and mental purity required for the practice to be meaningful.