Shloka 42

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

नित्यमग्निं परिचरेद्‌ भिक्षां दद्याच्च नित्यदा | वाग्यतो दन्तकाषछं च नित्यमेव समाचरेत्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

nityam agniṁ paricared bhikṣāṁ dadyāc ca nityadā |

vāgyato dantakāṣṭhaṁ ca nityam eva samācaret |

Translation

ନିତ୍ୟ ଅଗ୍ନିର ସେବା କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍, ଏବଂ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଭିକ୍ଷା/ଦାନ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ୍। ବାକ୍‌ସଂଯମ ରଖି, ଦନ୍ତକାଷ୍ଠ ଦ୍ୱାରା ନିତ୍ୟ ଦନ୍ତଧାବନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍।

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• अग्निम्: fire (sacred fire)
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परिचरेत्: should attend/serve
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नित्यदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यदा

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् + यत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दन्तकाष्ठम्: tooth-stick (twig for cleaning teeth)
• दन्तकाष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + काष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Agni (sacred fire)
• dantakāṣṭha (tooth-stick)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches a disciplined dharmic routine: maintain sacred duties (tending the ritual fire), practice generosity (giving alms), cultivate self-control (restraint in speech), and uphold daily purity practices (using the tooth-stick). Together these form steady ethical conduct rather than occasional piety.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma through practical rules of conduct. This verse is part of a prescriptive passage listing everyday observances that sustain personal purity, social responsibility, and religious order.