Shloka 27
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
चतुष्पथान् प्रकुर्वीत सवनिव प्रदक्षिणान् । मार्गमें चलते समय अश्वत्थ आदि परिचित वृक्षों तथा समस्त चौराहोंको दाहिने करके जाना चाहिये ।। मध्यन्दिने निशाकाले अर्धरात्रे च सर्वदा
catuṣpathān prakurvīta savaniva pradakṣiṇān | mārgam̐ me calte samaya aśvattha-ādi paricita vṛkṣoṃ tathā samasta caurāhoṃ ko dāhine karke jānā cāhiye || madhyandine niśākāle ardharātre ca sarvadā
Bhīṣma berkata: Persimpangan jalan hendaknya dilalui dengan menempatkannya di sisi kanan, seakan melakukan pradakṣiṇā dengan hormat. Dalam perjalanan, pohon-pohon yang dikenal seperti aśvattha serta semua simpang hendaknya dilewati dengan menjaganya di kanan. Aturan ini patut dijalankan senantiasa—siang, malam, tengah malam, setiap waktu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain auspicious and respectful conduct in everyday movement: when passing sacred or socially significant points like crossroads and revered trees (e.g., aśvattha), keep them on the right as a sign of reverence (pradakṣiṇā), and observe this consistently at all times.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct (sadācāra). Here he gives practical guidance for travellers—how to move past crossroads and sacred trees in an auspicious, respectful manner.