Shloka 39
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
(अमावास्यामृते नित्यं दंतधावनमाचरेत् । इतिहासपुराणानि दान वेदं च नित्यश: ।।
Bhīṣma uvāca: amāvāsyām ṛte nityaṃ dantadhāvanam ācaret | itihāsapurāṇāni dānaṃ vedaṃ ca nityaśaḥ || gāyatrīmananaṃ nityaṃ kuryāt sandhyāṃ samāhitaḥ | kṛtvā mūtrapurīṣe tu rathyām ākramya vā punaḥ | pādaprakṣālanaṃ kuryāt svādhyāye bhojane tathā ||
Kecuali pada hari bulan baru (amāvasyā), hendaknya setiap hari melakukan pembersihan gigi. Setiap hari pula membaca Itihāsa dan Purāṇa, bersedekah, dan berswādhyāya atas Weda. Dengan batin terpusat, lakukan pemujaan Sandhyā dan setiap hari mengulang serta merenungkan Gāyatrī. Setelah buang air kecil dan besar, dan lagi setelah berjalan di jalan raya, hendaknya membasuh kaki; demikian pula sebelum belajar suci dan sebelum makan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma is sustained through consistent daily discipline: personal cleanliness, regular sacred study (Veda, Itihasa, Purana), charity, focused Sandhya worship, and Gayatri contemplation, along with practical hygiene such as washing the feet after impure acts and before study or meals.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on codes of right conduct. Here he lists specific everyday observances—ritual, study, giving, and cleanliness—framing them as routine duties that cultivate purity and steadiness in a householder’s life.