Shloka 17
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
अत: पर॑ं नोपवासो भवतीति विनिश्षय: । उवाच भगवान् विष्णु: स्वयमेव पुरातनम्
ataḥ paraṁ nopavāso bhavatīti viniśṣayaḥ | uvāca bhagavān viṣṇuḥ svayam eva purātanam |
Bhīṣma dit : «Sachez-le avec certitude : il n’est point de jeûne plus élevé que celui-ci. Cette observance antique fut enseignée par le Seigneur Viṣṇu en personne.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the supremacy of a particular religious fast/observance, emphasizing that no higher upavāsa exists, and grounds this claim in the highest authority—Vishnu’s direct instruction—thereby linking ascetic discipline with devotional dharma.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma continues his discourse on dharma and vows, affirming a definitive conclusion about an exemplary fast and citing Vishnu as the original teacher of this ancient observance.