Shloka 39
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
(अमावास्यामृते नित्यं दंतधावनमाचरेत् । इतिहासपुराणानि दान वेदं च नित्यश: ।।
Bhīṣma uvāca: amāvāsyām ṛte nityaṃ dantadhāvanam ācaret | itihāsapurāṇāni dānaṃ vedaṃ ca nityaśaḥ || gāyatrīmananaṃ nityaṃ kuryāt sandhyāṃ samāhitaḥ | kṛtvā mūtrapurīṣe tu rathyām ākramya vā punaḥ | pādaprakṣālanaṃ kuryāt svādhyāye bhojane tathā ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Exceto no dia de lua nova (amāvāsyā), deve-se limpar os dentes diariamente. Deve-se, todos os dias, recitar os Itihāsas e os Purāṇas, dar em caridade e estudar o Veda; com a mente recolhida, realizar o culto de Sandhyā e refletir (e repetir) diariamente o Gāyatrī. Depois de urinar e evacuar, e novamente após caminhar pela estrada, deve-se lavar os pés; do mesmo modo, antes do estudo sagrado e antes de comer.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma is sustained through consistent daily discipline: personal cleanliness, regular sacred study (Veda, Itihasa, Purana), charity, focused Sandhya worship, and Gayatri contemplation, along with practical hygiene such as washing the feet after impure acts and before study or meals.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on codes of right conduct. Here he lists specific everyday observances—ritual, study, giving, and cleanliness—framing them as routine duties that cultivate purity and steadiness in a householder’s life.