Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 52

आचारप्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

न चानुलिम्पेदस्नात्वा स्नात्वा वासो न निर्धुनेत्‌ । न चैवार्द्राणि वासांसि नित्यं सेवेत मानव:

Transliteration

na cānulimped asnātva snātvā vāso na nirdhunet | na caivārdrāṇi vāsāṃsi nityaṃ seveta mānavaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：未先沐浴，不可在身上涂抹檀香等香膏。沐浴之后，也不可抖甩或猛甩湿衣。人亦不应习惯穿着潮湿的衣物。

Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca

• anulimpet: should apply/smear (on oneself)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-lip (लिप्)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, injunctive/optative sense, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• asnatva: without bathing
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-sna (स्ना) / स्ना
• Form: absolutive (ktvā), active, without bathing / not having bathed

• snatva: having bathed
• Type: Verb
• Root: sna (स्ना)
• Form: absolutive (ktvā), active, having bathed

• vasah: garment/cloth
• vasah: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasas (वसस्)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• nirdhunet: should shake off/should shake
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-dhu (धू)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, injunctive/optative sense, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca

• eva: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva

• ardrani: wet/damp
• ardrani: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ardra (आर्द्र)
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• vasamsi: garments/clothes
• vasamsi: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra/vasana (वासस्/वसन)
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• nityam: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (नित्य)

• sevet: should use/should wear/should resort to
• Type: Verb
• Root: sev (सेव्)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, injunctive/optative sense, 3, singular, Atmanepada

• manavah: a man/person
• manavah: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: manava (मानव)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• sandal paste/unguent (aṅgarāga/candana implied)
• wet garments (ārdrāṇi vāsāṃsi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain śauca (purity) and disciplined daily conduct: bathe before applying unguents, avoid improper handling of wet clothes after bathing, and do not regularly wear damp garments.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct (ācāra). This verse gives practical rules of bodily cleanliness and restraint as part of righteous living.