आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
लोष्ठमर्दी तृणच्छेदी नखखादी च यो नर: । नित्योच्छिष्ट: संकुसुको नेहायुर्विन्दते महत्
loṣṭamardī tṛṇacchedī nakhakhādī ca yo naraḥ | nityocchiṣṭaḥ saṅkusuko nehāyur vindate mahat ||
قال بهيشما: الرجل الذي اعتاد سحق كُتَل التراب، وقطع عيدان العشب، وقضم أظفاره، والبقاء على الدوام غير طاهرٍ لأكله البقايا—مضطرباً متململاً في سلوكه—لا ينال طول العمر في هذا العالم.
भीष्म उवाच
Longevity is associated with disciplined, clean, and restrained behavior; compulsive, petty, and impure habits are presented as signs of inner disorder that diminish one’s well-being and lifespan.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he lists observable bad habits (crushing clods, snapping grass, nail-biting, remaining in a state of impurity/restlessness) and states their consequence: such a person does not gain long life.