Shloka 3
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
द्वादश्यां मार्गशीर्षे तु अहोरात्रेण केशवम् । अर्च्याश्वमेधं प्राप्रोति दुष्कृतं चास्य नश्यति
dvādaśyāṁ mārgaśīrṣe tu ahorātreṇa keśavam | arcyāśvamedhaṁ prāpnoti duṣkṛtaṁ cāsya naśyati ||
在摩伽尸罗月的第十二日（Dvādaśī），若有人昼夜斋戒守夜，礼拜克舍婆（Keśava），便得与马祭（Aśvamedha）同等之功德，其一切恶业亦随之消灭。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined devotional observance—fasting and worship of Keśava on Mārgaśīrṣa Dvādaśī—can yield great merit comparable to an Aśvamedha and leads to the destruction of sinful karmic residue, highlighting inner sincerity and self-restraint as the heart of dharma.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he recommends a specific sacred time and practice: keeping a day-and-night observance on Dvādaśī in Mārgaśīrṣa and worshipping Keśava, describing its spiritual reward and purificatory effect.