Shloka 3
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
द्वादश्यां मार्गशीर्षे तु अहोरात्रेण केशवम् । अर्च्याश्वमेधं प्राप्रोति दुष्कृतं चास्य नश्यति,मार्गशीर्षमासमें द्वादशी तिथिको दिन-रात उपवास करके भगवान् केशवकी पूजा-अर्चा करनेसे मनुष्य अश्वमेध यज्ञका फल पा लेता है और उसका सारा पाप नष्ट हो जाता है
dvādaśyāṁ mārgaśīrṣe tu ahorātreṇa keśavam | arcyāśvamedhaṁ prāpnoti duṣkṛtaṁ cāsya naśyati ||
द्वादश्यां मार्गशीर्षे तु अहोरात्रेण केशवम्। अर्चयित्वाऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः॥ दुष्कृतं चास्य नश्यति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined devotional observance—fasting and worship of Keśava on Mārgaśīrṣa Dvādaśī—can yield great merit comparable to an Aśvamedha and leads to the destruction of sinful karmic residue, highlighting inner sincerity and self-restraint as the heart of dharma.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he recommends a specific sacred time and practice: keeping a day-and-night observance on Dvādaśī in Mārgaśīrṣa and worshipping Keśava, describing its spiritual reward and purificatory effect.