Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 556
उपवासफलात्मकविधिः — Upavāsa as Yajña-Equivalent Merit
Angiras Teaching
शतं वर्षसहसत्राणां मोदते स दिवि प्रभो । प्रभो! रोगी अथवा पीड़ित मनुष्य भी यदि उपवास करता है तो वह एक लाख वर्षोतक स्वर्गमें सुखपूर्वक निवास करता है
śataṁ varṣa-sahasrāṇāṁ modate sa divi prabho | prabho! rogī athavā pīḍita manuṣyo 'pi yadi upavāsaṁ karoti, sa eka-lakṣa-varṣotkaṁ svarge sukha-pūrvakaṁ nivāsam karoti |
Sabi ni Aṅgiras: “O Panginoon, siya’y nagagalak sa langit sa loob ng isang daang libong taon. Tunay nga, kahit ang taong maysakit o pinahihirapan, kung magsasagawa siya ng pag-aayuno (upavāsa), maninirahan siyang masaya sa langit sa loob ng isang daang libong taon.”
अंगियरा उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that upavāsa (fasting), as an act of self-restraint and religious discipline, generates great merit: even a sick or afflicted person who fasts is promised prolonged, happy residence in heaven.
Aṅgiras addresses a ‘Lord’ and states the फल (result) of fasting: the performer rejoices in heaven for a vast span of time, emphasizing that illness or suffering does not negate the spiritual efficacy of the vow.