Shloka 913
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
स लोकान् विपुलान् रम्यानादित्यानामुपाश्षुते । जो लगातार बारह महीनेतक पूरे बीस दिनपर एक बार भोजन करता
sa lokān vipulān ramyān ādityānām upāśnute |
Ia mencapai dunia-dunia para Āditya—para dewa surya—yang luas dan indah. Barangsiapa selama dua belas bulan berturut-turut makan hanya sekali setiap dua puluh hari, berkata benar, menepati tapa-brata, tidak memakan daging, menjaga brahmacarya, dan tekun demi kesejahteraan semua makhluk—ia pergi ke alam-alam Surya yang lapang dan menawan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that rigorous self-discipline—truthfulness, faithful observance of vows, abstention from meat, celibacy, and active commitment to the welfare of all beings—produces spiritual merit culminating in attainment of exalted solar realms (the worlds of the Adityas/Sun).
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and the fruits of various vows and austerities. Here he describes a specific long-term observance (restricted eating over a year, coupled with ethical restraints) and states its reward: reaching the vast, delightful worlds associated with the Adityas, especially Surya.