Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 1310
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
ब्राह्म॒णार्थे च यच्छौचं तच्च मे शृूणु कौरव । पवित्र च हितं चैव भोजनाद्यन्तयोस्तथा
brāhmaṇārthe ca yacchaucaṃ tac ca me śṛṇu kaurava | pavitraṃ ca hitaṃ caiva bhojanādyantayos tathā ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó Kaurava, ouve de mim a pureza (śauca) que deve ser observada em consideração aos brāhmaṇas. Ela é ao mesmo tempo santificadora e benéfica — especialmente no que diz respeito ao início e ao fim da refeição (isto é, às devidas observâncias em torno do alimento).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma introduces the doctrine of śauca—purity in conduct and observance—framed as both purifying and beneficial, and he signals that special care is required around food, particularly the proper practices at the start and completion of eating.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he transitions into guidance on purity practices connected with Brahmins and with meal-related observances, setting up more detailed rules that follow.