Shloka 8
उपवासफलात्मकविधिः — Upavāsa as Yajña-Equivalent Merit
Angiras Teaching
भीष्म उवाच इदं खलु मया राजन् श्रुतमासीत् पुरातनम् । उपवासविधीौ श्रेष्ठा गुणा ये भरतर्षभ
bhīṣma uvāca idaṃ khalu mayā rājan śrutam āsīt purātanam | upavāsavidhau śreṣṭhā guṇā ye bharatarṣabha ||
Dijo Bhishma: Oh rey, esto es en verdad una enseñanza antigua que una vez escuché. Oh toro entre los Bharatas, hablaré de esas excelentes virtudes que pertenecen a la correcta observancia del ayuno—virtudes que afinan el dominio de sí y sostienen el dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames fasting (upavāsa) as a dharmic discipline with specific 'excellent virtues'—a traditional teaching meant to cultivate restraint, purity, and ethical steadiness rather than mere physical deprivation.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma addresses King Yudhishthira and introduces an ancient account he has heard, preparing to explain the proper method and merits of fasting as part of righteous conduct.