आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
महात्मनो5तिगुह्यानि न वक्तव्यानि कर्िचित् । अगम्याक्ष न गच्छेत राज्ञ: पत्नी सखीस्तथा
mahātmano ’tiguhyāni na vaktavyāni karhicit | agamyāḥ striyo na gacchet rājñaḥ patnīḥ sakhīs tathā ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: “Rahasia yang amat dalam milik orang berhati luhur jangan sekali-kali diungkapkan. Perempuan yang ‘tidak patut didekati’ (agamya) jangan didekati; jangan pula bergaul dengannya. Orang bijak pun tidak patut mendekati istri-istri raja maupun para sahabat perempuan sang raja.”
भीष्म उवाच
Maintain confidentiality regarding the private affairs of the virtuous, and practice strict self-restraint by avoiding forbidden relationships—especially any approach to the king’s wives or women under royal protection.
In Bhishma’s dharma-instruction discourse (Anushasana Parva), he lays down practical rules of conduct: guarding others’ secrets and observing clear social and ethical boundaries, particularly in matters involving women connected to the royal household.