Shloka 9
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
आचारलक्षणो धर्म: संतश्षारित्रलक्षणा: । साधूनां च यथावृत्तमेतदाचारलक्षणम्
Bhīṣma uvāca: ācāra-lakṣaṇo dharmaḥ, santaś cāritra-lakṣaṇāḥ | sādhūnāṃ ca yathā-vṛttam etad ācāra-lakṣaṇam ||
ພີສະມະກ່າວວ່າ: «ທັມມະຖືກຮູ້ຈັກໂດຍຄວາມປະພຶດດີ (ācāra). ຜູ້ມີຄຸນທໍາຖືກຮູ້ຈັກໂດຍຈິດໃຈແລະອຸປະນິໄສອັນດີ. ສິ່ງໃດທີ່ຄົນດີ ແລະຜູ້ມີວິໄນ ປະພຶດຈິງໃນຊີວິດ—ການປະພຶດທີ່ມີຊີວິດນັ້ນແຫຼະ ແມ່ນຄວາມໝາຍຂອງ ‘ຄວາມປະພຶດຖືກຕ້ອງ’ ແລະເປັນເຄື່ອງໝາຍຂອງທັມມະ.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely a theory or rulebook; it is identified through ācāra—lived, disciplined right conduct. The reliable indicator of what is righteous is the consistent behavior and character of truly virtuous people.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is teaching Yudhiṣṭhira by defining dharma through observable standards: the conduct and character of the saintly and well-disciplined.