Shloka 91
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासांस्तु सत्यवादी धृतव्रत: । अमांसाशी ब्रह्मचारी सर्वभूतहिते रत:
sadā dvādaśa-māsāṁs tu satyavādī dhṛta-vrataḥ | amāṁsāśī brahmacārī sarva-bhūta-hite rataḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Selama genap dua belas bulan, dia sentiasa berkata benar dan teguh pada nazarnya—menjauhi daging, hidup dalam brahmacarya (selibat), serta bersukacita dalam kebajikan dan kesejahteraan semua makhluk.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises a dharmic regimen of sustained self-restraint: truthfulness, unwavering commitment to vows, abstention from meat, celibate discipline, and active concern for the welfare of all beings—presented as a coherent ethical ideal rather than isolated virtues.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and right conduct. Here he describes the qualities and year-long disciplined practice of an exemplary person/observer of vows, emphasizing moral integrity and universal benevolence.