मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सप्तलोकान् स पश्यति । जो लगातार बारह महीनोंतक प्रति अठारहवें दिन एक बार भोजन करता है, वह भू आदि सातों लोकोंका दर्शन करता है
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai sapta-lokān sa paśyati |
ผู้ใดรักษาวัตรตลอดสิบสองเดือน กินอาหารเพียงครั้งเดียวในทุกวันที่สิบแปด ผู้นั้นย่อมได้เห็นเจ็ดโลก เริ่มแต่ภูโลก
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches that sustained, disciplined austerity—specifically a strict regimen of eating only once every eighteenth day for a year—produces extraordinary spiritual merit, symbolized by the ability to behold the seven worlds. It underscores the dharmic value of self-control and regulated conduct.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and the fruits of vows and austerities. Here he states the promised result of a particular food-discipline observance, presenting it as an example of how tapas yields elevated spiritual outcomes.