Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 70
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
शिर:स्नातस्तु तैलैश्व नांगं किंचिदपि स्पृशेत् । तिलसृष्टं न चाश्नीयात् तथास्यायुर्न रिष्यते
śiraḥ-snātastu tailaiś ca nāṅgaṃ kiñcid api spṛśet | tila-sṛṣṭaṃ na cāśnīyāt tathāsyāyur na riṣyate ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ತಲೆಗೆ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಿ ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಹಚ್ಚಿದ ನಂತರ ಅದೇ ಕೈಯಿಂದ ದೇಹದ ಇತರ ಅಂಗಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿಸಬಾರದು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಎಳ್ಳಿನಿಂದ ಮಾಡಿದ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನಬಾರದು. ಈ ಸಂಯಮ ಪಾಲಿಸಿದರೆ ಆಯುಷ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೀಣಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches regulated personal conduct (ācāra) connected with purity: after oiling the head post-bath, one should avoid touching other body parts with the same hand and avoid eating sesame-based preparations; such discipline is said to protect one’s longevity.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction setting, Bhīṣma continues giving Yudhiṣṭhira practical rules of daily conduct and ritual hygiene, presenting them as observances that support health, order, and the maintenance of life.