Shloka 626
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
आगननिं गां ब्राह्मणं चैव तथा हायुर्न रिष्यते । भीगे पैर भोजन करनेवाला मनुष्य सौ वर्षोतक जीवन धारण करता है। भोजन करके हाथ-मुँह धोये बिना मनुष्य उच्छिष्ट (अपवित्र) रहता है। ऐसी अवस्थामें उसे अग्नि
agnim gāṁ brāhmaṇaṁ caiva tathā āyur na riṣyate | bhuktvā pāṇi-mukhaṁ aśaucam apohya na spraśet trīn tejasvinaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Umur seseorang tidak berkurang kerana mematuhi peraturan ini: selepas makan, seseorang masih berada dalam keadaan tidak suci selagi belum membasuh tangan dan berkumur. Dalam keadaan itu, dia tidak boleh menyentuh tiga yang bercahaya dan mulia—api, lembu, dan Brahmin. Dengan disiplin demikian, tenaga hayat dan umur panjang terpelihara.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
After eating, one should wash hands and mouth; until then one is considered impure (ucchiṣṭa/aśauca) and should not touch the sacred triad—fire, cow, and Brahmin. This discipline is presented as protective of one’s vitality and longevity.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on everyday rules of cleanliness and reverence, linking personal purity with respect toward sacred beings and with the preservation of life-force.