Shloka 11
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
भीष्मजीने कहा--युधिष्ठिर! जो मनुष्य केवल प्रात:काल और सायंकाल ही भोजन करता है, बीचमें कुछ नहीं खाता, उसे सदा उपवासी समझना चाहिये ।।
Bhīṣma uvāca—Yudhiṣṭhira! yaḥ puruṣaḥ kevalaṁ prātaḥkālaṁ sāyaṁkālaṁ ca bhuṅkte, madhye kiñcid api na aśnāti, sa sadā upavāsī iti mantavyaḥ. Bhāryāṁ gacchan brahmacārī ṛtau bhavati caiva ha; ṛtuvādī sadā ca syād dānaśīlas tu mānavaḥ.
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “O Yudhishthira, ang taong kumakain lamang sa bukang-liwayway at sa dapithapon, at walang kinakain sa pagitan, ay dapat ituring na laging nag-aayuno. Gayundin, ang taong lumalapit sa kanyang marapat at legal na asawa lamang sa panahon ng pagkamayabong ay dapat bilangin na isang brahmacārin (nagsasagawa ng pagpipigil). At ang taong nakatuon sa pagbibigay ng kaloob ay dapat maunawaang laging nakatali sa katotohanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma broadens ethical categories: regulated eating counts as continual fasting; regulated marital conduct counts as brahmacarya for a householder; and habitual generosity is treated as a practical marker of truthfulness—because giving reflects integrity and freedom from grasping.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhishthira on dharma, giving concrete, socially grounded standards for austerity, continence, and moral character within ordinary life.