Shloka 100
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासांस्तु मिताहारो जितेन्द्रिय: । वायोरुशनसश्लैव रुद्रलोक॑ च गच्छति
sadā dvādaśa-māsāṁs tu mitāhāro jitendriyaḥ | vāyor uśanasaś caiva rudra-lokaṁ ca gacchati ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Celui qui, durant douze mois, pratique constamment la modération dans la nourriture et tient ses sens en bride, atteint après la mort des demeures sublimes : le royaume de Vāyu, la sphère associée à Uśanas (Śukra), et aussi le monde de Rudra.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained self-discipline—especially moderation in eating (mitāhāra) and mastery over the senses (jitendriya)—is presented as a powerful dharmic practice that yields elevated spiritual results and auspicious posthumous attainments.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and conduct. Here he states the merit gained by a year-long regimen of controlled diet and sense-restraint, describing the lofty realms such a practitioner is said to reach.