Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 56
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
प्राडमुखो नित्यमश्रीयाद् वाग्यतो5न्नमकुत्सयन् । प्रस्कन्दयेच्च मनसा भुक्त्वा चाग्निमुपस्पृशेत्
prāḍmukho nityam aśrīyād vāgyato 'nnam akutsayan | praskandayec ca manasā bhuktvā cāgnim upaspṛśet ||
毗湿摩说道：凡进食之人，当日日面向东方，默然用餐，自持其心。食时不可诋毁所奉之食。宜留少许不尽食；食毕之后，当于心中忆念圣火阿耆尼（Agni），以敬畏与戒律，端正这寻常的滋养之行。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Everyday acts like eating are part of dharma: eat with discipline (silence and restraint), gratitude (no fault-finding with what is served), moderation (leave a small remainder), and reverence (mentally recollect the sacred fire after the meal).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on proper conduct (ācāra). Here he gives practical household guidance on how one should take food in a disciplined and reverent manner.