Shloka 47
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
अवलोक्यो न चादर्शो मलिनो बुद्धिमत्तरै: । न चाज्ञातां स्त्रियं गच्छेद् गर्भिणीं वा कदाचन
avalokyo na cādarśo malino buddhimattaraiḥ | na cājñātāṃ striyaṃ gacched garbhiṇīṃ vā kadācana ||
Bhīṣma enseigne une règle de prudence : un homme vraiment intelligent ne doit pas contempler son visage dans un miroir souillé, et il ne doit jamais s’approcher d’une femme inconnue—ni d’une femme enceinte. Ce conseil exalte la retenue, la pureté et l’évitement des situations qui appellent la confusion morale, le soupçon social ou le tort.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain purity and discretion: avoid degrading or misleading self-regard (the dirty mirror) and avoid morally risky or socially harmful encounters (approaching unknown women or pregnant women).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he lists practical prohibitions meant to guide a householder’s behavior and protect personal integrity and social order.