Shloka 556
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सर्वमेधफलं लभेत् | जो बारह महीनोंतक प्रति बारहवें दिन केवल हविष्यान्न ग्रहण करता है, उसे सर्वमेध यज्ञका फल मिलता है
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai sarva-medha-phalaṁ labhet |
Dijo Bhishma: Quien, durante doce meses completos, observa con regularidad la disciplina de tomar únicamente havishyānna en cada duodécimo día, alcanza un mérito equivalente al sacrificio Sarvamedha. La enseñanza muestra que la continencia sostenida y la observancia disciplinada pueden dar frutos alabados como iguales a los grandes ritos, exaltando el esfuerzo ético por encima del mero esplendor externo.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained self-restraint practiced with regularity—here, a year-long observance of taking only havishyānna on each Dvādaśī—can confer merit praised as equal to a major Vedic sacrifice. The verse elevates disciplined ethical practice and purity of conduct as a powerful means of spiritual attainment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and religious observances. This verse occurs within his guidance on vows and austerities, stating the spiritual reward of a specific year-long dietary observance tied to the twelfth day.