Shloka 75
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सोमयज्ञफलं लभेत् । जो बारह महीनोंतक प्रति सोलहवें दिन एक बार भोजन करता है, उसे सोमयागका फल मिलता है ।। सोमकन्यानिवासेषु सो5ध्यावसति नित्यश:
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai somayajña-phalaṁ labhet | somakanyā-nivāseṣu so 'dhyāvasati nityaśaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Sesungguhnya, seseorang itu memperoleh pahala seperti korban Soma (Soma-yajña) selama dua belas bulan penuh. Dia pun sentiasa menetap di kediaman para Soma-kanyā (gadis-gadis Soma), tanpa putus.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sustained discipline and regulated conduct can yield merit comparable to grand Vedic sacrifices; ethical self-restraint is presented as a powerful, accessible substitute for costly ritual performance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and vows, he describes the spiritual reward of a particular observance, stating that its practitioner gains the fruit of a Soma-sacrifice for twelve months and is envisioned as dwelling among the Soma-associated celestial maidens—an image of heavenly recompense.