Shloka 66
उपवासफलात्मकविधिः — Upavāsa as Yajña-Equivalent Merit
Angiras Teaching
ब्राह्मणेभ्य: परं नास्ति पावनं दिवि चेह च । उपवासैस्तथा तुल्यं तपःकर्म न विद्यते,जैसे इस लोक और परलोकमें ब्रह्मवेत्ता ब्राह्मणोंसे बढ़कर कोई पावन नहीं है, उसी प्रकार उपवासके समान कोई तप नहीं है
brāhmaṇebhyaḥ paraṃ nāsti pāvanaṃ divi ceha ca | upavāsais tathā tulyaṃ tapaḥkarma na vidyate ||
Aṅgirā tuyên bố: Dù ở cõi trời hay nơi trần thế, không gì thanh tịnh hơn các Bà-la-môn chân chính—những bậc tri Brahman. Cũng vậy, trong mọi pháp khổ hạnh, không có hành trì nào sánh bằng việc nhịn ăn.
अंगियरा उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a hierarchy of purification: spiritually realized Brahmins are presented as the highest purifiers in both worlds, and fasting (upavāsa) is upheld as the foremost austerity, surpassing other forms of tapas in effectiveness.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, the sage Aṅgirā is giving dharma-oriented counsel, emphasizing reverence for spiritual knowledge and the ethical discipline of self-restraint through fasting as key means to purification.