Shloka 8
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
वैशाखमासे द्वादश्यां पूजयन् मधुसूदनम् । अग्निष्टोममवाप्रोति सोमलोकं च गच्छति
vaiśākhamāse dvādaśyāṃ pūjayan madhusūdanam | agniṣṭomam avāpnoti somalokaṃ ca gacchati ||
Pada Dvādaśī di bulan Vaiśākha, siapa yang berpuasa dan memuja Madhusūdana memperoleh pahala setara dengan kurban Agniṣṭoma dan pergi ke alam Soma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sincere devotional worship of Vishnu (Madhusūdana), performed on an auspicious tithi with self-restraint such as fasting, can yield merit comparable to a major Vedic sacrifice (Agniṣṭoma), indicating an inclusive dharmic path where inner devotion and disciplined observance can substitute for expensive ritual performance.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he describes the spiritual fruit of a specific observance: worshipping Madhusūdana on Vaiśākha Dvādaśī. He states the promised result—Agniṣṭoma-like merit and ascent to Somaloka—thereby recommending the vrata as a powerful religious practice.