Shloka 58
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
जो मनुष्य पूर्व दिशाकी ओर मुँह करके भोजन करता है, उसे दीर्घायु, जो दक्षिणकी ओर मुँह करके भोजन करता है उसे यश, जो पश्चिमकी ओर मुख करके भोजन करता है उसे धन और जो उत्तराभिमुख होकर भोजन करता है उसे सत्यकी प्राप्ति होती है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | yaḥ purvadig-abhimukhaḥ kṛtvā bhuṅkte sa dīrghāyur bhavati; yaḥ dakṣiṇābhimukhaḥ kṛtvā bhuṅkte sa yaśasvī bhavati; yaḥ paścimābhimukhaḥ kṛtvā bhuṅkte sa dhanaṃ prāpnoti; yaś cottarābhimukhaḥ kṛtvā bhuṅkte sa satyaṃ prāpnoti || agnim ālabhya toyena sarvān prāṇān upaspṛśet | gātrāṇi caiva sarvāṇi nābhiṃ pāṇitale tathā ||
Dijo Bhishma: Quien come mirando al oriente obtiene larga vida; quien come mirando al sur obtiene fama; quien come mirando al occidente obtiene riqueza; y quien come mirando al norte alcanza la verdad. Habiendo tocado el fuego, debe luego, con agua, tocar ritualmente (purificar) todas las fuerzas vitales y el cuerpo entero—también el ombligo y las palmas—observando así la disciplina debida en torno a la comida y la pureza.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma links everyday conduct to ethical and auspicious outcomes: the direction one faces while eating is presented as shaping life-goals (longevity, fame, wealth, truth), and he emphasizes ritual purity—touching fire and then water to purify the body and vital functions—before or around the act of eating.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, Bhishma continues advising on household discipline and purity practices, giving prescriptive rules about mealtime orientation and a brief procedure of ritual touching (fire, then water) as part of regulated daily life.