Shloka 47
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
अवलोक्यो न चादर्शो मलिनो बुद्धिमत्तरै: । न चाज्ञातां स्त्रियं गच्छेद् गर्भिणीं वा कदाचन
avalokyo na cādarśo malino buddhimattaraiḥ | na cājñātāṃ striyaṃ gacched garbhiṇīṃ vā kadācana ||
Bhīṣma lehrt eine Regel kluger Lebensführung: Ein wahrhaft verständiger Mann soll sein Gesicht nicht in einem schmutzigen Spiegel betrachten, und er soll niemals an eine unbekannte Frau herantreten—auch nicht an eine schwangere. Der Rat betont Selbstzucht, Reinheit und das Meiden von Situationen, die moralische Verwirrung, gesellschaftlichen Argwohn oder Schaden hervorrufen.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain purity and discretion: avoid degrading or misleading self-regard (the dirty mirror) and avoid morally risky or socially harmful encounters (approaching unknown women or pregnant women).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he lists practical prohibitions meant to guide a householder’s behavior and protect personal integrity and social order.