Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 70
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
शिर:स्नातस्तु तैलैश्व नांगं किंचिदपि स्पृशेत् । तिलसृष्टं न चाश्नीयात् तथास्यायुर्न रिष्यते
śiraḥ-snātastu tailaiś ca nāṅgaṃ kiñcid api spṛśet | tila-sṛṣṭaṃ na cāśnīyāt tathāsyāyur na riṣyate ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Pagkatapos paliguan ang ulo at magpahid ng langis, huwag hawakan ang alinmang bahagi ng katawan gamit ang parehong kamay na iyon. At huwag ding kumain ng mga pagkaing gawa sa linga (sesame). Sa pagsunod sa pagpipigil na ito, hindi nababawasan ang haba ng buhay. (Ang tagubiling ito ay kabilang sa mas malawak na disiplina ng kalinisan ng katawan at maayos na pamumuhay na itinuturo bilang bahagi ng dharma.)
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches regulated personal conduct (ācāra) connected with purity: after oiling the head post-bath, one should avoid touching other body parts with the same hand and avoid eating sesame-based preparations; such discipline is said to protect one’s longevity.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction setting, Bhīṣma continues giving Yudhiṣṭhira practical rules of daily conduct and ritual hygiene, presenting them as observances that support health, order, and the maintenance of life.