Shloka 51
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
न नग्न: कर्तहिचित् स्नायान्न निशायां कदाचन । स्नात्वा च नावमृज्येत गात्राणि सुविचक्षण:
na nagnaḥ kartahicit snāyān na niśāyāṃ kadācana | snātvā ca nāvamṛjyeta gātrāṇi suvicakṣaṇaḥ |
Dijo Bhīṣma: Un hombre sabio no debe bañarse jamás desnudo, ni debe bañarse de noche. Y después del baño, el prudente no ha de frotar ni masajear sus miembros con aceite y cosas semejantes.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches regulated personal conduct: maintain modesty (do not bathe naked), avoid bathing at night, and refrain from post-bath oil-rubbing/massage—presented as marks of prudence and dharmic discipline.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on proper daily behavior (ācāra), giving practical rules of bodily purity and restraint as part of righteous living.