आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
प्रत्यादित्य॑ प्रत्यनलं प्रति गां च प्रति द्विजान् ये मेहन्ति च पन्थानं ते भवन्ति गतायुष:
pratyādityaṁ pratyanalaṁ prati gāṁ ca prati dvijān ye mehanti ca panthānaṁ te bhavanti gatāyuṣaḥ
جو سورج کے رُخ، آگ کے رُخ، گائے کی طرف اور برہمنوں کی طرف منہ کرکے پیشاب کرتے ہیں، اور جو راستے کے بیچ میں پیشاب کرتے ہیں—وہ سب کم عُمر ہو جاتے ہیں۔
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches basic dharmic etiquette: one should not perform impure acts in a manner that shows disrespect toward sacred beings (Sun, fire, cow, Brāhmaṇas) or that harms public cleanliness (urinating on a roadway). Such breaches of reverence and propriety are warned to bring adverse consequences, expressed as ‘short life.’
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he lists specific everyday prohibitions as part of āchāra (codes of behavior), emphasizing purity and respect in ordinary actions.