Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 62
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
आर्द्रपादस्तु भुंजानो वर्षाणां जीवते शतम् । त्रीणि तेजांसि नोच्छिष्ट आलभेत कदाचन
ārdrapādastu bhuñjāno varṣāṇāṃ jīvate śatam | trīṇi tejāṃsi nocchiṣṭa ālabheta kadācana
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Ang kumakain habang basa ang mga paa ay maaaring mabuhay nang sandaang taon. Ngunit huwag niyang kailanman hawakan o gamitin ang tatlong ‘tejas’—ang tatlong apoy/lakas—sa kalagayang marumi, ibig sabihin, nang walang wastong kalinisan at disiplina.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links everyday discipline with well-being: simple hygienic practice (washing, keeping the body clean) is praised as life-supporting, while engaging sacred or regulated ‘energies’ (tejāṃsi) must never be done in an impure state (ucchiṣṭa). It emphasizes purity and restraint as part of dharma.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and proper conduct (ācāra). Here he gives a prescriptive rule: a practice associated with longevity is mentioned, and a stronger prohibition is stated—never to undertake certain potent/sacred acts or forces while impure.