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 ||
Bhīṣma disse: “De fato, por doze meses completos obtém-se o mérito de um sacrifício de Soma (Soma-yajña). E tal pessoa habita continuamente entre as moradas das donzelas de Soma (Soma-kanyā), ali permanecendo sem cessar.”
भीष्म उवाच
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.