आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
लोष्ठमर्दी तृणच्छेदी नखखादी च यो नर: । नित्योच्छिष्ट: संकुसुको नेहायुर्विन्दते महत्
loṣṭamardī tṛṇacchedī nakhakhādī ca yo naraḥ | nityocchiṣṭaḥ saṅkusuko nehāyur vindate mahat ||
लोष्ठमर्दी तृणच्छेदी नखखादी च यो नरः । नित्योच्छिष्टः संकुसुको नेहायुर्विन्दते महत् ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Longevity is associated with disciplined, clean, and restrained behavior; compulsive, petty, and impure habits are presented as signs of inner disorder that diminish one’s well-being and lifespan.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he lists observable bad habits (crushing clods, snapping grass, nail-biting, remaining in a state of impurity/restlessness) and states their consequence: such a person does not gain long life.