Shloka 38
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
न ब्राह्मणान् परिवदेन्नक्षत्राणि न निर्दिशेत् । तिथिं पक्षस्य न ब्रूयात् तथास्यायुर्न रिष्यते
na brāhmaṇān parivaden nakṣatrāṇi na nirdiśet | tithiṁ pakṣasya na brūyāt tathāsyāyur na riṣyate ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Man soll nicht schlecht über Brāhmaṇas reden. Auch soll man nicht von Haus zu Haus gehen und die Mondstationen (nakṣatras) ausrufen oder den tithi einer Monatshälfte verkünden. Wer solche Praktiken meidet, dessen Lebensspanne wird nicht geschmälert.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Guard one’s speech and conduct: avoid slandering Brāhmaṇas and avoid making a public trade of calendrical/astrological announcements (nakṣatra and tithi). Such restraint is presented as conducive to preserving one’s lifespan.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper behavior. Here he gives a specific rule of conduct concerning respectful speech and refraining from certain public proclamations, linking ethical restraint with well-being and longevity.