Shloka 36
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
यस्तु संवत्सरं क्षान्तो भुड्क्तेडहन्यष्टमे नर:
yastu saṁvatsaraṁ kṣānto bhuṅkte ’hany aṣṭame naraḥ, devatānāṁ kāryeṣu tatparaḥ san nityam agnihotraṁ ca juhoti, tasmai pauṇḍarīka-yāgasya śreṣṭhatamaṁ phalaṁ prāpyate
Wika ni Bhishma: Ang taong sa loob ng isang buong taon ay nananatiling matiisin at mapagpatawad sa lahat, kumakain lamang nang minsan tuwing ikawalong araw, masigasig sa mga tungkuling iniaalay sa mga diyos, at araw-araw na nagsasagawa ng Agnihotra—siya ay nagkakamit ng pinakamataas na bunga ng handog na Pauṇḍarīka. Pinupuri ng aral ang mahigpit na pagpipigil, pagtitiis, at tapat na gampanin sa ritwal bilang daan sa dakilang kabanalan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained forgiveness, disciplined austerity (eating only once every eight days), and faithful performance of daily sacred duties—especially Agnihotra—are presented as powerful means of earning the highest religious merit, comparable to the best fruit of a great sacrifice.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he describes a specific year-long vow combining restraint, patience, and ritual observance, and he states the exalted spiritual reward that accrues from such conduct.