Shloka 69
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
न संहताभ्यां पाणिभ्यां कण्डूयेदात्मन: शिर: । न चाभीक्ष्णं शिर: स्नायात् तथास्यायुर्न रिष्यते
na saṁhatābhyāṁ pāṇibhyāṁ kaṇḍūyed ātmanaḥ śiraḥ | na cābhīkṣṇaṁ śiraḥ snāyāt tathāsyāyur na riṣyate ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Man soll den eigenen Kopf nicht mit beiden zusammengehaltenen Händen kratzen und den Kopf auch nicht immer wieder durchnässen oder baden. Wer solche körperliche Disziplin und Zurückhaltung übt, dessen Lebensspanne wird nicht gemindert.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches bodily restraint as part of dharma: avoid improper or excessive actions (here, certain ways of scratching or repeatedly wetting the head). Such moderation and disciplined conduct are presented as supportive of health and longevity.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct (ācāra). This verse is one among practical behavioral guidelines, linking everyday restraint with the preservation of well-being and lifespan.