Shloka 18
उपवासफलात्मकविधिः — Upavāsa as Yajña-Equivalent Merit
Angiras Teaching
सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्ण: सर्वोषधिसमन्वित:
sarva-kalyāṇa-sampūrṇaḥ sarvauṣadhi-samanvitaḥ | mārgaśīrṣa-māse upavāsaṃ kṛtvā manuṣyaḥ dvitīye janmani roga-rahitaḥ balavāṃś ca bhavati | tasya kṛṣi-bāri-sukha-sādhanaṃ bhavati, sa ca bahu-dhana-dhānya-sampannaḥ bhavati |
सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णः सर्वोषधिसमन्वितः। मार्गशीर्षे उपवासेन मनुष्यः परजन्मनि व्याधिरहितो बलवान् भवति। तस्य कृष्यादिसाधनसम्पत्तिः सुलभा भवति, स च बहुधनधान्यसमृद्धो जायते॥
अंगियरा उवाच
Educational Q&A
Seasonal religious discipline—specifically fasting in Mārgaśīrṣa—is presented as a dharmic practice that generates merit leading to health, strength, and stable prosperity (wealth, grain, and livelihood resources) in a future life.
Aṅgirā is describing the fruits (phala) of observing an upavāsa-vrata in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, listing concrete outcomes: freedom from disease, bodily vigor, agricultural means, and abundance of wealth and grain.