Shloka 85
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
स्नातस्य वर्णकं नित्यमार्द्र दद्याद् विशाम्पते | विपर्ययं न कुर्वीत वाससो बुद्धिमान् नर:,प्रजानाथ! स्नानके पश्चात् मनुष्यको अपने ललाटपर गीला चन्दन लगाना चाहिये। बुद्धिमान् पुरुषको कपड़ोंमें कभी उलट-फेर नहीं करना चाहिये अर्थात् उत्तरीय वस्त्रको अधोवस्त्रके स्थानमें और अधोवस्त्रको उत्तरीयके स्थानमें न पहने
bhīṣma uvāca | snātasya varṇakaṃ nityam ārdrāṃ dadyād viśāmpate | viparyayaṃ na kurvīta vāsaso buddhimān naraḥ prajānātha |
Bhishma said: “O lord of the people, after bathing one should regularly apply a moist fragrant paste (such as sandal) to the forehead. A wise man should not wear his garments in a reversed manner—he should not interchange the upper cloth and the lower cloth.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches rules of personal conduct: after bathing one should maintain cleanliness and decorum by applying moist fragrant paste (e.g., sandal) and by wearing garments properly without reversing the upper and lower cloths.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs the king (Yudhisthira) on dharma and daily discipline. Here he gives a practical rule of post-bath etiquette as part of broader guidance on righteous living.