Shloka 15
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
लोष्ठमर्दी तृणच्छेदी नखखादी च यो नर: । नित्योच्छिष्ट: संकुसुको नेहायुर्विन्दते महत्
loṣṭamardī tṛṇacchedī nakhakhādī ca yo naraḥ | nityocchiṣṭaḥ saṅkusuko nehāyur vindate mahat ||
Bhīṣma dit : L’homme qui a l’habitude d’écraser des mottes de terre, de casser des brins d’herbe, de se ronger les ongles, et de demeurer sans cesse impur en mangeant des restes—agité et fébrile dans sa conduite—n’obtient pas une longue vie en ce monde.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Longevity is associated with disciplined, clean, and restrained behavior; compulsive, petty, and impure habits are presented as signs of inner disorder that diminish one’s well-being and lifespan.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he lists observable bad habits (crushing clods, snapping grass, nail-biting, remaining in a state of impurity/restlessness) and states their consequence: such a person does not gain long life.