Shloka 72
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
अत्र गाथा यमोदगीता: कीर्तयन्ति पुराविद: । आयुरस्य निकृन्तामि प्रजास्तस्थाददे तथा
atra gāthā yamodgītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | āyur asya nikṛntāmi prajāḥ tasthād ade tathā ||
ビーシュマは言った。「このことについて、古伝に通じた賢者たちは、かつてヤマが歌ったとされる偈を語り伝えている。（ヤマは宣言する。）『口が不浄のまま起き上がり、走り回ったりヴェーダの誦習をしたりする者の寿命を、我は断つ。さらにその者から子孫をも奪う。 また、二度生まれの者（dvija）が迷いによって、誦読を禁ずる時（anadhyāya）にさえ学ぶなら、そのヴェーダの成就も寿命も、ともに滅びる。』ゆえに慎みある者は、禁じられた時にヴェーダを学んではならぬ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vedic study (svādhyāya) must be done with proper purity and only at permitted times; violating rules of cleanliness or studying during anadhyāya is portrayed as a serious dharmic fault that brings loss of lifespan, learning, and even progeny.
Bhishma supports his instruction on right conduct by citing an old, authoritative gāthā attributed to Yama. The quotation functions as a warning: Yama himself is said to punish improper or ill-timed Vedic recitation by curtailing life and undermining one’s spiritual and familial welfare.