आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
अष्टम्यां सर्वपक्षाणां ब्रह्मचारी सदा भवेत् | आक्रोशं परिवादं च पैशुन्यं च विवर्जयेत्
aṣṭamyāṃ sarvapakṣāṇāṃ brahmacārī sadā bhavet | ākrośaṃ parivādaṃ ca paiśunyaṃ ca vivarjayet |
Bhīṣma nói: “Vào ngày aṣṭamī (mồng tám) của cả hai nửa tháng, phải luôn giữ brahmacarya (tiết dục). Lại phải tránh lời lẽ chửi rủa, sự vu cáo bôi nhọ, và thói mách lẻo gieo chuyện.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches disciplined conduct on sacred lunar days—especially Aṣṭamī in both fortnights—by maintaining brahmacarya and practicing ethical speech: avoiding abuse, defamation, and malicious gossip.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma and proper conduct, prescribing specific observances (vratas) and moral restraints, here focusing on celibacy/sexual restraint and purity of speech.