मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै जुह्मानो जातवेदसम् | ब्रह्मकन्यानिवासे च सर्वभूतमनोहरे
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai juhmāno jātavedasam | brahma-kanyā-nivāse ca sarva-bhūta-mano-hare ||
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै जुह्वानो जातवेदसम् । ब्रह्मकन्यानिवासे च सर्वभूतमनोहरे ॥
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical-religious value of sustained discipline in ritual duty: continuous offerings to Agni over a full year symbolize steadiness, purity, and commitment to dharma, leading to elevated spiritual merit.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and meritorious practices. Here he describes the fruit of year-long fire-offerings to Jātavedas and associates it with residence in a divine, mind-delighting realm linked with the Brahma-maidens.