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?
उपवासः परं पुण्यमुपवासः परायणम्। उपोष्येह नरश्रेष्ठ किं फलं प्रतिपद्यते॥