Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
युवनाश्वेन च तथा शिबिनौशीनरेण च । मुचुकुन्देन मान्धात्रा हरिश्वन्द्रेण वा विभो
yuvanāśvena ca tathā śibinauśīnareṇa ca | mucukundena māndhātrā hariścandreṇa vā vibho kuntīnandana |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai putra Kuntī yang perkasa! Ikrar ini pun dijalankan oleh Yuvanāśva, Śibi dari wangsa Uśīnara, Mucukunda, Māndhātṛ, dan juga Hariścandra.”
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma teaches that disciplined restraint—here exemplified by abstaining from meat during a sacred period—supports compassion toward beings and strengthens inner purity, which in turn becomes a basis for higher understanding and dharmic excellence.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma by listing renowned kings who practiced a particular vow. This verse continues the catalogue, naming Yuvanāśva, Śibi (of the Uśīnara line), Mucukunda, Māndhātṛ, and Hariścandra as exemplars.