Shloka 56
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
प्राडमुखो नित्यमश्रीयाद् वाग्यतो5न्नमकुत्सयन् । प्रस्कन्दयेच्च मनसा भुक्त्वा चाग्निमुपस्पृशेत्
prāḍmukho nityam aśrīyād vāgyato 'nnam akutsayan | praskandayec ca manasā bhuktvā cāgnim upaspṛśet ||
Bhishma sprach: Ein Mann, der seine Mahlzeit einnimmt, soll dies täglich tun, nach Osten gewandt, schweigend und in Selbstbeherrschung. Während des Essens soll er die aufgetragene Speise nicht herabsetzen. Er soll einen kleinen Teil unberührt lassen und nach dem Essen im Innern das heilige Feuer Agni vergegenwärtigen—und so Ehrfurcht und Disziplin im schlichten Akt der Nahrung bewahren.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Everyday acts like eating are part of dharma: eat with discipline (silence and restraint), gratitude (no fault-finding with what is served), moderation (leave a small remainder), and reverence (mentally recollect the sacred fire after the meal).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on proper conduct (ācāra). Here he gives practical household guidance on how one should take food in a disciplined and reverent manner.