Shloka 68

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

उच्छिष्टो न स्पृशेच्छीर्ष सर्वे प्राणास्तदा श्रया: । नंगे होकर न सोये। उच्छिष्ट अवस्थामें भी शयन न करे। जूठे हाथसे मस्तकका स्पर्श न करे; क्योंकि समस्त प्राण मस्तकके ही आश्रित हैं ।।

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: ucchiṣṭo na spṛśecchīrṣaṁ sarve prāṇās tadāśrayāḥ | keśagrahaṁ prahārāṁś ca śirasy etān vivarjayet |

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Không nên chạm vào đầu bằng đôi tay còn bất tịnh vì thức ăn thừa, bởi mọi sinh khí đều được nói là nương tựa nơi đầu. Vì vậy, phải tránh nắm tóc giật kéo và đánh vào đầu. Những điều kiêng này được truyền dạy như quy tắc của hạnh kiểm có kỷ luật, nhằm gìn giữ sinh mệnh và an lành.

Word by Word

• उच्छिष्टः: one who is in a state of impurity (after eating; with remnants)
• उच्छिष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शीर्षम्: head
• शीर्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राणाः: vital breaths; life-forces
• प्राणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तदा: then; at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• आश्रयाः: dependent; resting upon (as support)
• आश्रयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• केशग्रहम्: seizing the hair (hair-grasping)
• केशग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रहारान्: blows; strikes
• प्रहारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid; should refrain from
• Type: Verb
• Root: विवर्ज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• śīrṣa (head)
• prāṇa (vital breaths)
• keśa (hair)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain disciplined conduct regarding the head: do not touch it with impure (ucchiṣṭa) hands, and avoid actions like hair-pulling or striking the head, since the head is regarded as the seat/support of the prāṇas.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues giving Yudhiṣṭhira practical dharma-guidance (ācāra), here focusing on bodily discipline and protective rules connected with life-force and longevity.