Shloka 88
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
पृथगेवानुलिम्पेत केसरेण च बुद्धिमान् । बुद्धिमान् पुरुष राई, चन्दन, बिल्व, तगर तथा केसरके द्वारा पृथक्ू-पृथक् अपने शरीरमें उबटन लगावे ।। उपवासं च कुर्वीत स्नात: शुचिरलंकृत:
pṛthag evānulimpeta kesareṇa ca buddhimān | candanena bilvena tagareṇa tathā kesareṇa pṛthak pṛthak śarīre ’nubandhanaṃ kuryāt || upavāsaṃ ca kurvīta snātaḥ śuciḥ alaṅkṛtaḥ ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Người có trí nên xức thân bằng các hương liệu, mỗi thứ một cách riêng đúng phép—như nghệ tây (kesar), đàn hương, bilva, tagara và những thứ tương tự. Sau khi tắm gội, giữ mình thanh tịnh và trang sức chỉnh tề, người ấy cũng nên thực hành trai giới.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes disciplined ācāra: bodily cleanliness (bathing), ritual purity, measured adornment, and fasting. These outward practices are presented as supports for inner restraint and dharmic living.
Within Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva, he gives practical guidance on preparatory observances—anointing with specific fragrant substances, then maintaining purity and undertaking a fast—typical of ritual or vow-related conduct.