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Shloka 59

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

नाधितिषछेत्‌ तुषं जातु केशभस्मकपालिका: । अन्यस्य चाप्यवस्नातं दूरत: परिवर्जयेत्‌,भूसी, भस्म, बाल और मुर्देकी खोपड़ी आदिपर कभी न बैठे। दूसरेके नहाये हुए जलका दूरसे ही त्याग कर दे

Bhīṣma uvāca: nādhitiṣṭhet tuṣaṃ jātu keśabhasmakapālikāḥ | anyasya cāpy avasnātaṃ dūrataḥ parivarjayet ||

Bhishma sprach: Man soll niemals auf Spreu sitzen, noch auf Haaren, Asche oder einem Schädel. Ebenso soll man—ja, schon aus der Ferne—das Wasser meiden, in dem ein anderer gebadet hat. Die Lehre betont Regeln der Reinheit und der disziplinierten Lebensführung und mahnt zu Zurückhaltung und sorgfältiger Meidung von Unreinem und Verunreinigendem als Teil rechtschaffenen Lebens.

nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
adhitiṣṭhetshould sit/stand upon
adhitiṣṭhet:
TypeVerb
Rootadhi-√sthā
FormVidhi-linga, injunctive/optative (should), 3, singular, Parasmaipada
tuṣamchaff, husk
tuṣam:
Karma
TypeNoun
Roottuṣa
Formneuter, accusative, singular
jātuever, at any time
jātu:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootjātu
keśa-bhasma-kapālikāḥhair, ash, and skull(-bowl)s (i.e., such impure items)
keśa-bhasma-kapālikāḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootkeśa + bhasma + kapālikā
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
anyasyaof another (person)
anyasya:
TypeAdjective
Rootanya
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, singular
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
apialso, even
api:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi
avasnātambathed water / water after bathing (lit. 'that in which one has bathed')
avasnātam:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootava-√snā
Formpast passive participle (kta), neuter, accusative, singular
dūrataḥfrom afar
dūrataḥ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdūratas
parivarjayetshould avoid, should shun
parivarjayet:
TypeVerb
Rootpari-√vṛj
FormVidhi-linga, optative (should), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
T
tuṣa (chaff)
K
keśa (hair)
B
bhasma (ashes)
K
kapāla/kapālikā (skull)
A
avasnāta-jala (another's bath-water)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches śauca (purity) and disciplined ācāra: one should avoid contact with substances considered impure or contaminating (chaff, hair, ashes, skulls) and should also avoid another person’s used bath-water, maintaining personal and ritual cleanliness as part of dharma.

Bhishma, instructing on dharma in the Anushasana Parva, lays down practical rules of conduct related to purity and avoidance of impurity, presenting them as ethical disciplines to be observed in daily life.