Shloka 99
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
रमते देवकन्याभिर्दिव्याभरण भूषित: । जो बारह महीनोंतक प्रतिदिन अग्निहोत्र करता हुआ बाईसवाँ दिन प्राप्त होनेपर एक बार भोजन करता है तथा अहिंसामें तत्पर
trayoviṁśe tu divase prāśed yas tv ekabhojanam |
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Ang sinumang sa ika-23 araw ay kumakain lamang nang minsan—matapos magtiyaga sa mga pagtalima gaya ng araw-araw na Agnihotra sa mahabang panahon, at nananatiling nakatuon sa ahimsa, matalino, tapat sa salita, at hindi mapaghanap ng mali—ay magkakamit ng anyong nagniningning na tulad ng Araw. Sakay ng isang dakilang sasakyang makalangit, mararating niya ang daigdig ng mga Vasu. Doon, malaya siyang maglalakbay ayon sa nais, mabubuhay sa pag-inom ng amrita, magagayakan ng mga banal na alahas, at maglilibang kasama ang mga dalagang makalangit.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained religious discipline (such as regulated eating and daily Agnihotra) must be paired with ethical virtues—especially non-violence, truthfulness, and freedom from fault-finding. When austerity and character align, the text portrays a high karmic fruit: radiant transformation and attainment of a divine realm.
Bhishma is describing the results of a specific observance: the practitioner eats only once on the prescribed day (here, the twenty-third), while maintaining Agnihotra and moral virtues. The narrative then depicts the promised outcome—ascending in a celestial vehicle to the realm of the Vasus, enjoying ambrosia and the company of heavenly maidens.