Shloka 556
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सर्वमेधफलं लभेत् | जो बारह महीनोंतक प्रति बारहवें दिन केवल हविष्यान्न ग्रहण करता है, उसे सर्वमेध यज्ञका फल मिलता है
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai sarva-medha-phalaṁ labhet |
ビーシュマは語った。「満十二か月のあいだ、つねに戒めを守り、十二日ごとにただハヴィシュヤーンナ（供物の食）だけを口にする者は、サルヴァメーダ（Sarvamedha）祭と等しい功徳を得る。」この教えは、長く続く自制と規律ある実践こそが、壮大な儀礼に比肩する果報をもたらすと示し、外面的な華やかさよりも徳の努力を重んじるのである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained self-restraint practiced with regularity—here, a year-long observance of taking only havishyānna on each Dvādaśī—can confer merit praised as equal to a major Vedic sacrifice. The verse elevates disciplined ethical practice and purity of conduct as a powerful means of spiritual attainment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and religious observances. This verse occurs within his guidance on vows and austerities, stating the spiritual reward of a specific year-long dietary observance tied to the twelfth day.