Shloka 13
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
सर्वलक्षणहीनो5पि समुदाचारवान् नर: । श्रद्दधानोडनसूयुश्च॒ शतं वर्षाणि जीवति
sarvalakṣaṇahīno 'pi sadācāravān naraḥ | śraddadhāno 'nasūyuś ca śataṁ varṣāṇi jīvati ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า—แม้บุรุษจะขาดลักษณะมงคลทั้งปวง หากตั้งมั่นในความประพฤติดี มีศรัทธา และปราศจากใจเพ่งโทษริษยา เขาย่อมมีชีวิตถึงร้อยปี
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External auspicious signs are secondary; a life rooted in good conduct (sadācāra), faith (śraddhā), and freedom from envy or fault-finding (anasūyā) is presented as the true basis for a full, long life.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma, highlighting practical virtues. Here he contrasts physiognomic ‘marks’ with inner qualities, asserting that moral character and a non-malicious attitude outweigh outward indicators.