Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
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 ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—যে ব্যক্তি ঢেলা চূর্ণ করে, ঘাসের ডগা ছিঁড়ে, নখ কামড়ায়, আর সর্বদা উচ্ছিষ্ট-অশুচি ও অস্থির থাকে—সে এ লোকেতে দীর্ঘায়ু লাভ করে না।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.