Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra
सायं प्रातर्मनुष्याणामशन वेदनिर्मितम् । नान्तरा भोजन दृष्टमुपवासी तथा भवेत्
sāyaṃ prātar manuṣyāṇām aśanaṃ vedanirmitam | nāntarā bhojanaṃ dṛṣṭam upavāsī tathā bhavet ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବେଦ ଭୋଜନର ଦୁଇଟି ସମୟ ମାତ୍ର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରଣ କରିଛି: ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳ ଓ ସାୟଂକାଳ। ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଭୋଜନ କରିବାର ବିଧି ଦେଖାଯାଏ ନାହିଁ। ଯେ ଏହି ନିୟମ ପାଳନ କରେ, ସେ ଉପବାସୀ ଭାବେ ଗଣ୍ୟ ହୋଇ ଉପବାସର ଫଳ ପାଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches restraint in food: eating only at the two prescribed times (morning and evening) is a dharmic discipline, and avoiding meals in between is treated as equivalent in merit to fasting.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct; here he lays down a rule of regulated eating grounded in Vedic authority, linking daily discipline with the spiritual fruit of upavāsa.