Shloka 110
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासांस्तु नियतो नियताशन: । जितेन्द्रियो वीतरागो जुह्मानो जातवेदसम्
sadā dvādaśa-māsāṁs tu niyato niyatāśanaḥ | jitendriyo vītarāgo juhmāno jātavedasam ||
Bhishma berkata: Seseorang yang selama dua belas bulan senantiasa hidup dalam disiplin, makan teratur dan secukupnya, menguasai indria serta bebas dari keterikatan, dan setiap hari mempersembahkan oblation kepada Jātavedas (Agni)—orang yang amat beruntung itu, selalu dihormati para Apsaras, pergi menuju alam para Marut dan delapan Vasu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained discipline—regulated diet, mastery of the senses, freedom from attachment, and daily fire-offerings—constitutes a powerful dharmic practice that yields elevated spiritual results. The verse links inner restraint (jitendriya, vītarāga) with outer ritual fidelity (homa to Agni).
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and the fruits of vows and austerities. Here he describes the merit of a year-long regulated observance with daily offerings to Agni, stating that such a practitioner is honoured by celestial beings and attains the worlds associated with the Maruts and the eight Vasus.