Shloka 9
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
अहोरात्रेण द्वादश्यां ज्येष्ठे मासि त्रिविक्रमम् गवां मेधमवाप्रोति अप्सरोभिक्ष मोदते
ahorātreṇa dvādaśyāṁ jyeṣṭhe māsi trivikramaṁ gavāṁ medham avāpnoti apsarobhiś ca modate
毗湿摩说道：“在耶什吒月（Jyeṣṭha）的十二日（Dvādaśī），若有人昼夜斋戒而礼敬三步尊（Trivikrama，毗湿奴），便得与牛祭同等之功德；得至三步尊之前，并与天女阿普萨拉（Apsaras）同乐。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined observance performed at an auspicious time (Dvādaśī in Jyeṣṭha, kept for a full day and night) is presented as yielding great spiritual merit—comparable to a major sacrifice—and culminating in reaching Viṣṇu (Trivikrama). The verse emphasizes the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethic that regulated, dharmic practice can substitute for costly ritual grandeur.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, including vows and observances. Here he states the फलश्रुति (promised result) of a specific timing-based vrata: keeping it for a day and night on Dvādaśī in Jyeṣṭha grants the merit of a cow-sacrifice, access to Trivikrama (Viṣṇu), and heavenly enjoyment with Apsarases.