Shloka 556
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
सदा द्वादशमासान् वै सर्वमेधफलं लभेत् | जो बारह महीनोंतक प्रति बारहवें दिन केवल हविष्यान्न ग्रहण करता है, उसे सर्वमेध यज्ञका फल मिलता है
sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai sarva-medha-phalaṁ labhet |
毗湿摩说道：若有人满十二个月，恒常守持戒律——每逢第十二日唯食供祭之食（havishyānna）——便能获得等同于“萨尔瓦梅达”（Sarvamedha）大祭的功德。此教诲彰显：持久的自制与严谨的修持，所结之果可与宏大仪式相等，重在德行之功而非外在排场。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustained self-restraint practiced with regularity—here, a year-long observance of taking only havishyānna on each Dvādaśī—can confer merit praised as equal to a major Vedic sacrifice. The verse elevates disciplined ethical practice and purity of conduct as a powerful means of spiritual attainment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and religious observances. This verse occurs within his guidance on vows and austerities, stating the spiritual reward of a specific year-long dietary observance tied to the twelfth day.