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 ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Maliban sa araw ng bagong buwan (amāvāsyā), dapat linisin ang ngipin araw-araw. Araw-araw ding dapat bigkasin at basahin ang mga Itihāsa at Purāṇa, magbigay ng kawanggawa, at magsagawa ng pag-aaral sa Veda; na may natipong isip, isagawa ang pagsamba sa Sandhyā at araw-araw pagnilayan (at ulit-ulitin) ang Gāyatrī. Pagkatapos umihi at dumumi, at muli pagkatapos maglakad sa daan, dapat hugasan ang mga paa; gayundin bago mag-aral ng banal na aralin at bago kumain.
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.