Shloka 9
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
अहोरात्रेण द्वादश्यां ज्येष्ठे मासि त्रिविक्रमम् गवां मेधमवाप्रोति अप्सरोभिक्ष मोदते
ahorātreṇa dvādaśyāṁ jyeṣṭhe māsi trivikramaṁ gavāṁ medham avāpnoti apsarobhiś ca modate
Bhīṣma dit : « En jeûnant jour et nuit à la Dvādaśī du mois de Jyeṣṭha et en adorant Trivikrama, on obtient le mérite d’un sacrifice de vache ; on atteint Trivikrama (Viṣṇu) et l’on se réjouit en compagnie des Apsaras. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined observance performed at an auspicious time (Dvādaśī in Jyeṣṭha, kept for a full day and night) is presented as yielding great spiritual merit—comparable to a major sacrifice—and culminating in reaching Viṣṇu (Trivikrama). The verse emphasizes the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethic that regulated, dharmic practice can substitute for costly ritual grandeur.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, including vows and observances. Here he states the फलश्रुति (promised result) of a specific timing-based vrata: keeping it for a day and night on Dvādaśī in Jyeṣṭha grants the merit of a cow-sacrifice, access to Trivikrama (Viṣṇu), and heavenly enjoyment with Apsarases.