Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 51
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
Devanagari script
न नग्न: कर्तहिचित् स्नायान्न निशायां कदाचन । स्नात्वा च नावमृज्येत गात्राणि सुविचक्षण:
Transliteration
na nagnaḥ kartahicit snāyān na niśāyāṃ kadācana | snātvā ca nāvamṛjyeta gātrāṇi suvicakṣaṇaḥ |
Translation
毗湿摩说道：智者切不可裸身沐浴，也不可在夜间沐浴。沐浴之后，明辨之人亦不应以油等物揉搓或按摩四肢。
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
नग्नःnaked
नग्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनग्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कर्तुंto do / to perform
कर्तुं:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormInfinitive (tumun)
हिचित्indeed, at all
हिचित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि + चित्
Formparticle cluster; 'हि' emphatic + 'चित्' (ever/at all)
स्नायात्should bathe
स्नायात्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्ना
FormVidhi-ling (optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
निशायाम्at night
निशायाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनिशा
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
कदाचनever, at any time
कदाचन:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकदाचन
स्नात्वाhaving bathed
स्नात्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootस्ना
FormAbsolutive (ktvā)
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अवमृज्येतshould rub / should anoint (oneself)
अवमृज्येत:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-मृज्
FormVidhi-ling (optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
गात्राणिlimbs, body-parts
गात्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगात्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
सुविचक्षणःvery discerning, wise
सुविचक्षणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसु-विचक्षण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches regulated personal conduct: maintain modesty (do not bathe naked), avoid bathing at night, and refrain from post-bath oil-rubbing/massage—presented as marks of prudence and dharmic discipline.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on proper daily behavior (ācāra), giving practical rules of bodily purity and restraint as part of righteous living.