मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सत्यव्रतपरायण: । तस्य लोका: शुभा दिव्या देवराजर्षिपूजिता:
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai satya-vrata-parāyaṇaḥ | tasya lokāḥ śubhā divyā deva-rāja-ṛṣi-pūjitāḥ ||
Bhishma diz: Aquele que, ao longo de todos os doze meses, permanece firmemente devotado ao voto da verdade alcança mundos auspiciosos e divinos—reinos honrados e reverenciados pelos deuses, pelos rishis reais e pelos rishis celestes. O enfoque ético é que a veracidade sustentada, mantida como voto disciplinado ao longo do tempo, torna-se causa direta de elevada realização espiritual e de honra entre as mais altas ordens de seres.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches that unwavering commitment to satya (truthfulness) as a sustained vrata (vow) over a full year yields exalted spiritual results—attainment of auspicious, divine realms honored by gods and sages. The stress is on consistency and lifelong integrity rather than occasional truth-speaking.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is describing the fruits (phala) of ethical observances. Here he highlights the reward for one who remains devoted to a truth-vow across twelve months: such a person gains revered celestial worlds.