Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 72
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
अत्र गाथा यमोदगीता: कीर्तयन्ति पुराविद: । आयुरस्य निकृन्तामि प्रजास्तस्थाददे तथा
atra gāthā yamodgītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | āyur asya nikṛntāmi prajāḥ tasthād ade tathā ||
毗湿摩说道：关于此事，通晓古传的贤者常诵读阎摩（Yama）昔日所唱之偈。（阎摩宣告：）“那口中尚不洁净便起身奔走、或从事吠陀自诵者，我必削其寿命，并夺其后嗣。又若一位二次生者（dvija）因迷妄而在禁诵之时（anadhyāya）仍强行学习，则其吠陀成就与寿数俱毁。”因此，谨慎之人切不可在被禁止的时段研习吠陀。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vedic study (svādhyāya) must be done with proper purity and only at permitted times; violating rules of cleanliness or studying during anadhyāya is portrayed as a serious dharmic fault that brings loss of lifespan, learning, and even progeny.
Bhishma supports his instruction on right conduct by citing an old, authoritative gāthā attributed to Yama. The quotation functions as a warning: Yama himself is said to punish improper or ill-timed Vedic recitation by curtailing life and undermining one’s spiritual and familial welfare.