Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
नोपसूष्टं न वारिस्थं न मध्यं नभसो गतम् | ऋषयो नित्यसंध्यत्वाद् दीर्घमायुरवाप्तुवन्
nopasūṣṭaṃ na vāristhaṃ na madhyaṃ nabhaso gatam | ṛṣayo nityasaṃdhyatvād dīrgham āyur avāptuvan
ऋषि न तो मलिन-अपवित्र स्थानों में रहते थे, न जलमग्न प्रदेशों में, न आकाश के मध्य भाग में विचरते थे। नित्य संध्या-उपासना के कारण उन्होंने दीर्घायु प्राप्त की।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Longevity and well-being are linked to disciplined daily conduct—especially steadfast observance of sandhyā—and to avoiding unwholesome or improper dwelling-places; ethical life is presented as practical, embodied discipline.
Bhīṣma, instructing on dharma and proper conduct, cites the sages’ lifestyle: they avoided impure or unsuitable locations and maintained unwavering sandhyā practice, through which they are said to have attained long life.