Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 47
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
Devanagari script
अवलोक्यो न चादर्शो मलिनो बुद्धिमत्तरै: । न चाज्ञातां स्त्रियं गच्छेद् गर्भिणीं वा कदाचन
Transliteration
avalokyo na cādarśo malino buddhimattaraiḥ | na cājñātāṃ striyaṃ gacched garbhiṇīṃ vā kadācana ||
Translation
毗湿摩教诲谨慎之道：真正聪慧之人，不应在污秽之镜中照见己面；亦不可接近陌生女子——更不可接近怀孕之妇。此诫旨在劝人自制、洁净，并远离易致道德混乱、世人疑惧或伤害之境。
Word by Word
अवलोक्यhaving looked (at)
अवलोक्य:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootअवलोक् (धातु)
Formल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय), कर्तरि
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
आदर्शःmirror
आदर्शः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआदर्श
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मलिनःdirty, stained
मलिनः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमलिन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बुद्धिमत्तरैःby the wise
बुद्धिमत्तरैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootबुद्धिमत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अज्ञाताम्unknown, not acquainted (with)
अज्ञाताम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअज्ञात
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
स्त्रियम्woman
स्त्रियम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गच्छेत्should go
गच्छेत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, optative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
गर्भिणीम्pregnant woman
गर्भिणीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगर्भिणी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
कदाचनever, at any time
कदाचन:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकदाचन
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaM
mirror (ādarśa)U
unknown woman (ājñātā strī)P
pregnant woman (garbhiṇī)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Maintain purity and discretion: avoid degrading or misleading self-regard (the dirty mirror) and avoid morally risky or socially harmful encounters (approaching unknown women or pregnant women).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he lists practical prohibitions meant to guide a householder’s behavior and protect personal integrity and social order.