युधिष्ठिर उवाच सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां म्लेच्छानां च पितामह। उपवासे मतिरियं कारणं च न विद्यते॥
Yudhishthira said O grandfather, all the orders of men, including the very Mlechchhas, are naturally disposed to observe fasts. We, however, do not know the reason thereof.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण नियमाश्चर्तव्या इति नः श्रुतम्। उपवासे कथं तेषां कृत्यमस्ति पितामह॥
We have heard that only Brahmanas and Kshatriyas should observe the vow of fasts. How, O grandfather, are the other castes to be taken as acquiring any merit by the observance of fasts?
नियमांश्चोपवासांश्च सर्वेषा ब्रूहि पार्थिव। आप्नोति कां गतिं तात उपवासपरायणः॥
How have vows and fasts come to be observed by persons of all castes, O king? What is that end which one devoted to the observance of fasts, acquires?
उपवासः परं पुण्यमुपवासः परायणम्। उपोष्येह नरश्रेष्ठ किं फलं प्रतिपद्यते॥
It has been said that fasts are greatly meritorious and that fasts are a great refuge. O king, what is the fruit that is acquired in this world by the man who observes fasts?
अधर्मान्मुच्यते केन धर्ममाप्नोति वा कथम्। स्वर्गे पुण्यं च लभते कथं भरतसत्तम॥
By what means is one purged of his sins? By what means does one acquire virtue. By what means, O best of the Bharatas, does one succeed in acquiring Heaven and merit.
उपोष्य चापि किं तेन प्रदेय स्यानराधिप। धर्मेण च सुखार्थोल्लभेद् येन ब्रबीहि तम्॥
After having observed a fast, what should one give away, O king? O tell me, what those duties are by which one may succeed in acquiring objects leading to happiness.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणं कौन्तेयं धर्मज्ञं धर्मतत्त्ववित्। धर्मपुत्रमिदं वाक्यं भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्॥
Vaishampayana said Kunti's son begotten by the deity of Dharma, who was conversant with every duty and who said so to him, Shantanu's son, Bhishma, who knew every duty, answered in the following words.
भीष्म उवाच इदं खलु मया राजन् श्रुतमासीत् पुरातनम्। उपवासविधौ श्रेष्ठा गुणा ये भरतर्षभ॥
Bhishma said Formerly, O king, I heard of these high merits O chief of Bharata's race, as belonging to the observance of fasts according to the ordinance.
ऋषिमङ्गिरसं पूर्वं पृष्टवानस्मि भारत। यथा मां त्वं तथैवाहं पृष्टवांस्तं तपोधनम्॥
I had, O Bharata, asked the Rishi Angirasa of great ascetic merit, the very same questions which you have asked me today.
प्रश्चमतं मया पृष्टो भगवानग्निसम्भवः। उपवासविधिं पुण्यमाचष्ट भरतर्षभ।॥
Accosted by me thus, the illustrious Rishi, who originated from the sacrificial fire, answered me even thus about the observance of fasts according to the ordinance.
अङ्गिरा उवाच ब्रह्मक्षत्रे त्रिरात्रं तु विहितं कुरुनन्दन। द्विस्त्रिरात्रमथैकाहं निर्दिष्टं पुरुषर्षभ॥
Angirasa said Fasts for three nights together, ordained for Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, O delighter of the Kurus. Indeed, O king, a fast for one night, for two nights, and for three nights may be observed by them.
वैश्याः शूद्राश्च यन्मोहादुपवासं प्रचक्रिरे। त्रिरात्रं या द्विरात्रं वा तयोर्तुष्टिर्न विद्यते॥
Fast for one night is ordained for Vaishyas and Shudras. If they observe fasts for two or three nights by mistake, such fasts never bring on their advancement.
चतुर्थभक्तक्षपणं वैश्ये शूद्रे विधीयते। त्रिरात्रं न तु धर्मज्ञैर्विहितं धर्मदर्शिभिः॥
Fasts for two nights have been ordained for Vaishyas and Shudras (on certain special occasions). Fasts for three nights, however, have not been ordained for them by persons knowing duties.
पञ्चम्यां वापि षष्ठ्यां च पौर्णमास्यां च भारत। उपोष्य एकभक्तेन नियतात्मा जितेन्द्रियः॥ क्षमावान् रूपसम्पन्नः श्रुतवांश्चैव जायते। नानपत्यो भवेत् प्राज्ञो दरिद्रो वा कदाचन॥
The wise man who, with his senses and soul under restraint, O Bharata, fasts, by abstaining from one of the two meals, on the fifth and the sixth days of the moon as also on the day of the full moon, becomes gifted with forgiveness and personal beauty and knowledge of scriptures. Such a person never becomes childless and poor.
यजिष्णुः पञ्चमी षष्ठी कुले भोजयते द्विजान्। अष्टमीमथ कौरव्य कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशीम्॥ उपोष्य व्याधिरहितो वीर्यवानभिजायते। मार्गशीर्षं तु यो मासमेकभक्तेन संक्षिपेत्॥ भोजयेच्च द्विजाशक्त्या स मुच्येद् व्याधिकिल्बिशैः। सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्ण: सर्वोषधिसमन्वितः॥
He who celebrates sacrifices for worshipping the deities on the fifth and the sixth days of the moon, becomes superior to all the members of his family and succeeds in feeding a large number of Brahmanas. He who observes fasts on the eighth and the fourteenth days of the dark fortnight, becomes freed from diseases and possessed of great energy. The man who abstains from one meal every day throughout the month called Margashirsha, should, with respect and devotion, feed a number of Brahmanas. By so doing he becomes freed from all his sins. Such a man becomes gifted with prosperity, and all sorts of grain become his.
उपोष्य व्याधिरहितो वीर्यवानभिजायते। कृषिभागी बहुधनो बहुधान्यश्च जायते॥
He becomes gifted with energy. In fact, such a person reaps profuse harvest from his fields, acquires great riches and much corn.
पौषमासं तु कौन्तेय भक्तेनैकेन यः क्षिपेत्। सुभगो दर्शनीयश्च यशोभागी च जायते॥
That man, O son of Kunti, who passes the whole month of Pausha abstaining every day from one of two meals, becomes a gainer of good fortune and pleasant features and great fame.
माघं तु नियतो मासमेकभक्तेन यः क्षिपेत्। श्रीमत्कुले ज्ञातिमध्ये स महत्त्वं प्रपद्यते॥
He who passes the whole month of Magha, abstaining every day from one of the two mcals, is born in a high family and attains to a position of eminence among his kinsmen.
भगदैवतमासं तु एकभक्तेन यः क्षिपेत्। स्त्रीषु वल्लभतां याति वश्याश्चास्य भवन्ति ताः।।२२
He who passes the whole month of Bhagadaivata, confining himself every day to only one meal, becomes a favourite with women who, indeed, readily acknowledge his sway.
चैत्रं तु नियतो मासमेकभक्तेन यः क्षिपेत्। सुवर्णमणिमुक्ताढ्ये कुले महति जायते॥
He who passes the whole of the month of Chaitra, taking every day one meal only, is born in high family and becomes rich in gold, gems, and pearls.
निस्तरेदेकभक्तेन वैशाख यो जितेन्द्रियः। नरो वा यदि वा नारी ज्ञातीनां श्रेष्ठतां व्रजेत्॥
The person, whether male or female, who passes the month of Baishakha, taking himself or herself every day one meal, and keeping his or her senses under restraint, succeeds in attaining to a position of eminence among kinsmen.
ज्येष्ठामूलं तु यो मासमेकभक्तेन संक्षिपेत्। ऐश्वर्यमतुलं श्रेष्ठं पुमान् स्त्री वा प्रपद्यते॥
The person who passes the month of Jaishthya taking himself every day one meal, succeeds in acquiring a position of eminence and great riches. If a woman, she reaps the same reward.
आषाढमेकभक्तेन स्थित्वा मासमतन्द्रितः। बहुधान्यो बहुधनो बहुपुत्रश्च जायते॥
He who passes the month of Ashada, taking himself one meal a day and with senses steadily concentrated upon his duties, becomes possessed of much corn, great riches and large progeny.
श्रावणं नियतो मासमेकभक्तेन यः क्षिपेत्। यत्र तत्राभिषेकेण युज्यते ज्ञातिवर्धनः॥
He who passes the month of Sravana, taking himself one meal a day receives the honors of Abhisheka wherever he may happen to live, and attains to a position of eminence among kinsmen whom he supports.
प्रौष्ठपदं तु यो मासमेकाहारो भवेन्नरः। गवाढ्यं स्फीतमचलमैश्वर्यं प्रतिपद्यते॥
That man who takes himself only one meal a day for the whole month of Proshthapada, becomes possessed of great riches.
तथैवाश्वयुजं मासमेकभक्तेन यः क्षिपेत्। मृजावन् वाहनाढ्यश्च बहुपुत्रश्च जायते॥
The man who passes the month of Ashvin, taking himself one meal a day, becomes pure in soul and body, possessed of many animals and vehicles and large progeny.
कार्तिकं तु नरो मासं यः कुर्यादेकभोजनम्। शूरश्च बहुभार्यश्च कीर्तिमांश्चैव जायते॥
He who passes the month of Kartika, taking himself one meal every day, becomes possessed of heroism, many wives and great fame.
इति मासा नरव्याघ्र क्षिपतां परिकीर्तिताः। तिथीनां नियमा ये तु शृणु तानपि पार्थिव॥
I have now told you, O king, what the fruits are that are obtained by men by observing fasts for the two and ten months in detail. Listen now, O king, to me as I tell you what the rules are about the lunar days.
पक्षे पक्षे गते यस्तु भक्तमश्नशति भारत। गवाढ्यो बहुपुत्रश्च बहुभार्यः स जायते॥
The man who, abstaining from it every day, takes rice at the termination of every fortnight becomes possessed of a great many kine, a large progeny, and a long life.
मासि मासि त्रिरात्राणि कृत्वा वर्षाणि द्वादश। गणाधिपत्यं प्राप्नोति निःसपत्नमनाविलम्॥
He whọ observes fasts for three nights every month and acts thus for two and ten years, acquires a position of eminence among his kinsmen and friends, without a rival to contest his claim and without any anxiety caused by any one trying to rise to the same height.
एते तु नियमाः सर्वे कर्तव्या: शरदो दश। द्वे चान्ये भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रवृत्तिमनुवर्तता॥
These rules which I speak of, O chief of Bharata's race, should be observed for twelve years. Be disposed to do it.
यस्तु प्रातस्तथा सायं भुजानो नान्तरा पिबेत्। अहिंसानिरतो नित्यं जुह्वानो जातवेदसम्॥ षभिः स वषैर्नृपते सिध्यते नात्र संशयः। अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः॥
That man who eats once in the forenoon and once after evening and abstains from drinking at the interval, and who shows mercy towards all creatures, and pours libations of clarified butter on his sacred fire every day, acquires success, O king, in six years. There is no doubt in this. Such a man acquires the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.
अधिवासे सोऽप्सरसां नृत्यगीतविनादिते। रमते स्त्रीसहस्राढ्ये सुकृती विरजो नरः॥
Gifted with merit and freed from every sort of stain, he acquires the region of the Apsaras which echo with the sound of songs and dance, and passes his days in the company of a thousand highly beautiful ladies.
तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभं विमानमधिरोहति।
He rides on a car of the colour of melted gold and receives great honours in the region of Brahma.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रं च ब्रह्मलोके महीयते॥ तत्क्षयादिह चागम्य माहाम्यं प्रतिपद्यते। यस्तु संवत्सरं पूर्णमेकाहारो भवेन्नरः॥ अतिरात्रस्य यज्ञस्य स फलं समुपाश्नुते। दशवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे च स महीयते॥
After the exhaustion of that merit, such a person returns to Earth and acquires elevated position. That man who passes one whole year, taking himself every day only one meal, acquires the merit of the Atiratra sacrifice. He ascends to Heaven after death and receives great honours there.
तत्क्षयादिह चागम्य माहात्म्यं प्रतिपद्यते। यस्तु संवत्सरं पूर्णं चतुर्थं भक्तमश्नुते॥ अहिंसानिरतो नित्यं सत्यवाग् विजितेन्द्रियः। वाजपेयस्य यज्ञस्य स फलं समुपाश्नुते॥
Upon the termination of that merit he returns to the Earth and acquires a position of eminence. He who passes one whole year fasting for three days in succession and taking food on every fourth day, and abstaining from injury from every sort, adhering to truthfulness of speech, and keeping his senses under control, acquires the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते। षष्ठे काले तु कौन्तेय नरः संवत्सरं क्षिपन्॥ अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः। चक्रवाकप्रयुक्तेन विमानेन स गच्छति॥
Such a person ascends to Heaven after death and receives great honours there. That man, O son of Kunti, who passes a whole year observing fasts for five days and taking food on only the sixth day, gains the merit of Horse sacrifice. The chariot he rides, is drawn by Chakravakas.
यत्वारिंशत् सहस्राणि वर्षाणां दिवि मोदते। अष्टमेन तु भक्तेन जीवन् संवत्सरं नृप॥ गवामयस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः। हंससारसयुक्तेन विमानेन स गच्छति॥
Such a man enjoys every kind of happiness in Heaven for full forty thousand years. He who passes a whole year observing fasts for seven days and taking food on only every eighth day, gains the merit of the Gavamaya sacrifice. The chariot he rides, is drawn by swans and cranes.
पञ्चाशतं सहस्राणि वर्षाणां दिवि मोदते। पक्षे पक्षे गते राजन् योऽश्नीयाद् वर्षमेव तु॥ षण्मासानशनं तस्य भगवानङ्गिराऽब्रवीत्। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि दिवमावसते च सः॥
Such a person enjoys all kinds of happiness in Heaven for fifty thousand years. He who passes a whole year, o king, taking food only at intervals of a fortnight, gains the merit of a continuous fast for six months. This has been said by the illustrious Angirasa himself. Such a man Lives in Heaven for sixty thousand years.
वीणानां वल्लकीनां च वेणूनां च विशाम्पते। सुघोषैर्मधुरैः शब्दैः सुप्तः स प्रतिबोध्यते॥
He is roused every morning from his bed by the sweet notes of Vinas and Vallakis and flutes, O king.
संवत्सरमिहैकं तु मासि मासि पिबेदपः। फलं विश्वजितस्तात प्राप्नोति स नरो नृप॥
He who passes a whole year, drinking only a little water at the termination of every month, acquires, O king, the merit of the Vishvajit sacrifice.
सिंहव्याघ्रप्रयुक्तेन विमानेन स गच्छति। सप्ततिं व सहस्राणि वर्षाणां दिवि मोदते॥
Such a man rides a chariot drawn by lions and tigers. He lives in Heaven for seventy thousand years in the enjoyment of every sort of happiness.
मासादूर्ध्वं नरव्याघ्र नोपवासो विधीयते। विधि त्वनशनस्याहुः पार्थ धर्मविदो जनाः॥
No fast for more than a month, O king, has been ordained. Even this, O son of Pritha, is the ordinance about fasts that has been declared by sages conversant with duties.
अनार्तो व्याधिरहितो गच्छेदनशनं तु यः। पदे पदे यज्ञफलं स प्राप्नोति न संशयः॥
That man who, unafflicted by discase and free from every malady, observes a fast, indeed acquires, at every step the merits of Sacrifices.
दिवं हंसप्रयुक्तेन विमानेन स गच्छति। शतं वर्षसहस्राणां मोदते स दिवि प्रभो॥
Such a man ascends to Heaven on a car drawn by swans. Gifted with power, he enjoys every sort of happiness in Heaven for a hundred years.
शतं चाप्सरस: कन्या रमयन्त्यपि तं नरम्। आर्तो वा व्याधितो वापि गच्छेदनशनं तु यः॥
A hundred Apsaras of the most beautiful features, wait upon, and sport with him.
शतं वर्षसहस्राणां मोदते स दिवि प्रभो। काञ्चीनूपुरशब्देन सुप्तश्चैव प्रबोध्यते॥
He is roused from his bed every morning by the sound of the Kanchis and the Nupuras of those ladies.
सहस्रहंसयुक्तेन विमानेन तु गच्छति। स गत्वा स्त्रीशताकीर्णं रमते भरतर्षभ॥
Such a person rides on a car drawn by a thousand swans. Living, again, in a region teeming with hundreds of the most beautiful ladies, he passes his time in great joy.
क्षीणस्याप्यायनं दृष्टं क्षतस्य क्षतरोहणम्। व्याधितस्यौषधग्रामः क्रुद्धस्य च प्रसादनम्॥ दुःखितस्यार्थमानाभ्यां दुःखानां प्रतिषेधनम्। न चैते स्वर्गकामस्य रोचन्ते सुखमेधसः॥
The person who seeks Heaven, does not want strength when he becomes weak, or the cure of wounds when he is wounded, or the administration of medicine when he is ill, or soothings, by others when he is angry, or the mitigation, by the expenditure of money, of sorrows caused by poverty.
अतः स कामसंयुक्त विमाने हेमसंनिभे। रमते स्त्रीशतकीर्णं पुरुषोऽलंकृतः शुचिः॥
Leaving this world, where he suffers all sorts of privations, he proceeds to Heaven and rides on cars bedecked with gold, his body adorned with all sorts of ornaments. There in the midst of hundreds of beautiful ladies, he enjoys all sorts of pleasure and happiness, cleansed of every sin.
स्वस्थः सफलसंकल्प: सुखी विगतकल्मषः। अनश्चन् देहमुत्सृज्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः॥
Indeed, abstaining from food and enjoyments in this world, he renounces this body and ascends to Heaven as the fruit of his penances, There purged of all his sins, he enjoys health and happiness and all his wishes become crowned with success.
बालसूर्यप्रतीकाशे विमाने हेमवर्चसि। वैदूर्यमुक्ताखचिते वीणामुरजनादिते॥ पताकादीपिकाकीर्णं दिव्यकघण्टानिनादिते। स्त्रीसहस्रानुचरिते स नरः सुखमेधते॥
Such a person rides on a celestials car of golden colour, effulgent like the morning sun, set with pearls and lapis lazuli, resounding with the music of Vinas and Murajas, adorned with banners and lamps, and echoing with the sounds of celestial bells.
यावन्ति रोमकूपाणि तस्य गात्रेषु पाण्डव। तावन्त्येव सहस्राणि वर्षाणां दिवि मोदते॥
Such a person enjoys all sorts of happiness in Heaven for as many years as there are pores in his body.
नास्ति वेदात् परं शास्त्रं नास्ति मातृसमो गुरुः। न धर्मात् परमो लाभस्तपो नानशनात् परम्॥
There is no Shastra superior to the Veda. There is no person more worthy of respect than the mother. There is no acquisition superior to that of virtue, and no penance superior to fast.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः परं नास्ति पावनं दिवि चेह च। उपवासैस्तथा तुल्यं तपःकर्म न विद्यते॥
There is nothing, more sacred, in Heaven or Earth, than Brahmanas. Similarly there is no penance that is superior to the observance of fasts.
उपोष्य विधिवद् देवास्त्रिदिवै प्रतिपेदिरे। ऋषयश्च परां सिद्धिमुपवासैरवाप्नुवन्॥
It was by fasts that the celestials have succeeded in becoming dwellers of Heaven. It is by fasts that the Rishis have acquired high success.
दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि विश्वामित्रेण धीमता। क्षान्तमेकेन भक्तेन तेन विप्रत्वमागतः॥
Vishvamitra passed a thousand celestial years, taking one meal a day, and as the consequence thereof acquired the status of a Brahmana.
च्यवनो जमदग्निश्च वसिष्ठो गौतमो भृगुः। सर्व एव दिवं प्राप्ताः क्षमावन्तो महर्षयः॥
Chyavana, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Gautama and Bhriguall these great Rishis gifted with the virtue of forgivenesshave attained to Heaven through the observance of fasts.
इदमङ्गिरसा पूर्वं महर्षिभ्यः प्रदर्शितम्। यः प्रदर्शयते नित्यं न स दुःखमवाप्नुते॥
Forinerly Angirasa declared so to the great Rishis. The man who teaches another the merit of fasts, has never to suffer any sort of misery.
इमं तु कौन्तेय यथाक्रमं विधि प्रवर्तितं ह्यङ्गिरसा महर्षिणा। पठेच्च यो वै शृणुयाच्च नित्यदा न विद्यते तस्य नरस्य किल्बिषम्॥
The ordinances about fasts, in their due order, O son of Kunti, have originated from the great Rishi Angirasa. The man who daily reads these ordinances or hears them read, becomes freed from all sins.
र्न चास्य दोषैरभिभूयते मनः। वियोनिजानां च विजानते रुतं ध्रुवां च कीर्तिं लभते नरोत्तमः॥
Not only is such a person freed from every calamity, but his mind rises above all sorts of shortcomings. Such a person succeeds in understanding the sounds of all creatures other than human, and acquiring eternal fame, becomes the foremost of men.