Shloka 7
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
अहोरात्रेण द्वादश्यां चैत्रे विष्णुरिति स्मरन् । पौण्डरीकमवाप्रोति देवलोक॑ च गच्छति,चैत्रमासकी द्वादशी तिथिको दिन-रात उपवास करके विष्णुनामसे भगवान्का चिन्तन करनेवाला मनुष्य पौण्डरीक यज्ञका फल पाता है और देवलोकमें जाता है
ahorātreṇa dvādaśyāṃ caitre viṣṇur iti smaran | pauṇḍarīkam avāpnoti devalokaṃ ca gacchati ||
Bhīṣma said: “One who keeps a full day-and-night fast on the Dvādaśī of the month of Caitra, remembering and repeating the name ‘Viṣṇu’, attains the merit of the Pauṇḍarīka sacrifice and goes to the world of the gods.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sincere remembrance of Viṣṇu combined with disciplined observance (a day-and-night fast on Caitra Dvādaśī) is presented as a powerful dharmic act that yields great spiritual merit—comparable to a major sacrifice—and leads to an elevated posthumous state (devaloka).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and religious duties, he describes a specific vrata: fasting through the day and night on the Dvādaśī tithi in the month of Caitra while contemplating Viṣṇu. He states the promised fruit of this practice—Pauṇḍarīka-yajña merit and attainment of devaloka.