Shloka 6
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
भीष्मजीने कहा--युधिष्ठिर! तुम मुझसे जो पूछ रहे हो, इसका उत्तर देता हूँ। मनुष्य जिस कारणसे अल्पायु होता है, जिस उपायसे दीर्घायु होता है, जिससे वह कीर्ति और सम्पत्तिका भागी होता है तथा जिस बर्तावसे पुरुषको श्रेयका संयोग प्राप्त होता है, वह सब बताता हूँ, सुनो ।। आचाराल्लभते हायुराचाराल्लभते श्रियम् | आचारात् कीर्तिमाप्रोति पुरुष: प्रेत्य चेह च,सदाचारसे ही मनुष्यको आयुकी प्राप्ति होती है, सदाचारसे ही वह सम्पत्ति पाता है तथा सदाचारसे ही उसे इहलोक और परलोकमें भी कीर्तिकी प्राप्ति होती है
bhīṣma uvāca—yudhiṣṭhira! tvaṃ māṃ yat pṛcchasi, tasya te prativakṣyāmi. yena manuṣyo 'lpāyur bhavati, yena dīrghāyur bhavati, yena kīrti-sampad-bhāgī bhavati, yena ca vyavahāreṇa puruṣaḥ śreyasaḥ saṃyogaṃ prāpnoti—tat sarvaṃ te vakṣyāmi; śṛṇu. ācārāl labhate hy āyur ācārāl labhate śriyam | ācārāt kīrtim āpnoti puruṣaḥ pretya ceha ca ||
Bhishma said: “Yudhishthira, I will answer what you ask. I shall tell you the causes by which a person becomes short-lived, the means by which one becomes long-lived, how one comes to share in fame and prosperity, and what conduct brings a man into union with the highest good—listen. From right conduct (ācāra) one indeed gains longevity; from right conduct one gains prosperity; and from right conduct a man attains fame, both here in this world and after death.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ethical discipline (ācāra/sadācāra) is the root cause of a good human life: it supports longevity, brings prosperity, and yields lasting fame both in this world and beyond, ultimately aligning a person with śreyas (the highest good).
In the Anushasana Parva, Yudhishthira questions Bhishma about the principles that govern human welfare—why people become short-lived or long-lived and how they gain prosperity and renown. Bhishma begins his reply by establishing ‘right conduct’ as the central determinant of these outcomes.