Shloka 16

आचारप्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते बुध्येत धर्मार्थों चानुचिंतयेत्‌ । उत्थायाचम्य तिषछेत पूर्वा संध्यां कृताज्जलि:

Transliteration

brāhme muhūrte budhyeta dharmārthau cānucintayet | utthāyācamya tiṣṭhet pūrvāṃ sandhyāṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“当于梵天时分（Brahma-muhūrta）醒起，思惟法（dharma）与利（artha）。继而离榻，行阿遮摩那（ācamana），合掌（añjali）而立，修行晨间（向东）的三昧耶礼（sandhyā）。”

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मे: in the Brahma (early-morning) [time]
• ब्राह्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मुहूर्ते: at the muhūrta (time-period)
• मुहूर्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• बुध्येत: should wake up / should become awake
• बुध्येत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• धर्म: dharma, righteousness
• धर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थम्: artha, welfare/wealth/purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अनुचिन्तयेत्: should reflect upon / should contemplate
• अनुचिन्तयेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उत्थाय: having risen
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Active (kartari)

• आचम्य: having sipped water (ācamana)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Active (kartari)

• तिष्ठेत्: should stand / should perform (remain engaged)
• तिष्ठेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पूर्वाम्: the earlier (morning) [one]
• पूर्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सन्ध्याम्: twilight worship (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कृताञ्जलिः: with hands joined (having made añjali)
• कृताञ्जलिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृताञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• brāhma-muhūrta
• pūrvā-sandhyā
• ācamana
• añjali

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Begin the day in Brahma-muhūrta with mindful reflection on dharma (right duty) and artha (right means/welfare), then perform purificatory and devotional acts (ācamana and morning sandhyā) with reverence; ethical living is strengthened by disciplined daily practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on right conduct (anuśāsana), he prescribes an ideal morning regimen—waking before dawn, contemplating life’s guiding aims, and performing the morning sandhyā—presented as a model of orderly, dharma-centered living.