Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 112
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
ब्राह्मणको प्रत्येक शुद्धिके कार्यमें ब्राह्मतीर्थसी आचमन करना चाहिये। थूकने और छींकनेके बाद झलका स्पर्श (आचमन) करनेसे वह शुद्ध होता है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | brāhmaṇo pratyeka-śuddhike kārye brāhma-tīrthena ācamanaṁ kartavyaṁ | niṣṭhīvana-chardana-kṣavathu-kṛteṣu jala-sparśa-ācamana-mātreṇa sa śuddhyati || vṛddho jñātis tathā mitraṁ daridro yo bhaved api | (kulīnaḥ paṇḍita iti rakṣyā niḥsvāḥ svaśaktitaḥ) | gṛhe vāsayitavyās te dhanyam āyuṣyam eva ca ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang isang brāhmaṇa ay dapat magsagawa ng ācamana ayon sa ‘Brāhma-tīrtha’ sa bawat gawaing paglilinis. Pagkaraan ng pagdura o pagbahing, sapat na ang paghipo sa tubig—ibig sabihin, ang pag-ācamana—upang maibalik ang kalinisan. Gayundin, ang matandang kamag-anak, ang dukhang kaibigan, at maging ang marunong na mula sa mabuting angkan na naghirap, ay dapat pangalagaan ayon sa kakayahan. Dapat silang patuluyin sa sariling tahanan; ang paggawa nito’y nagdudulot ng pagdami ng kasaganaan at paghabà ng buhay.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Two duties are emphasized: (1) maintain ritual purity through ācamana, even after minor impurities like spitting or sneezing; (2) practice compassionate household dharma by protecting and hosting the elderly, relatives, friends, and learned but impoverished persons according to one’s means—an act said to yield prosperity and long life.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on dharma. Here he gives practical rules of cleanliness for brāhmaṇas and then shifts to social ethics, urging care and hospitality toward vulnerable people within one’s circle and toward destitute scholars.