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 ||
بھیشم نے کہا—سر دھو کر تیل لگانے کے بعد اسی ہاتھ سے بدن کے کسی اور عضو کو نہ چھوئے، اور تل سے بنی چیزیں بھی نہ کھائے۔ اس ضبط کی پابندی سے عمر گھٹتی نہیں۔
भीष्म उवाच
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.