Shloka 90

आचारप्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

नालीढया परिहतं भक्षयीत कदाचन । तथा नोद्धृतसाराणि प्रेक्ष्यते नाप्रदाय च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | nālīḍhayā parihataṃ bhakṣayīta kadācana | tathā noddhṛtasārāṇi prekṣyate nāpradāya ca, janeśvara |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“噫，人中之主，切莫食被经期女子触碰而成不净之食。同样，不可食其精华已被榨取之物。且若有人以渴望之目望着食物，未先施与，便不可自食。”

Word by Word

• नालीढया: by (something) licked/defiled
• नालीढया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नालीढा (न-आ-लिह्)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परिहतम्: struck/tainted/defiled
• परिहतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिहत (परि-हन्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भक्षयीत: should eat
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

• तथा: likewise/so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• उद्धृतसाराणि: those from which the essence has been taken out
• उद्धृतसाराणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्धृतसार (उद्-हृ + सार)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• प्रेक्ष्यते: is looked at / looks (towards)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रेक्ष्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अप्रदाय: without giving (first)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ-प्र-दा (प्र-दा)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), अ- (without)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• जनईश्वर: O lord of people (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन-ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• janeśvara (the king addressed, i.e., Yudhishthira)
• food (anna/bhojana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches disciplined and compassionate conduct around food: avoid impure or ethically compromised food, and do not eat selfishly when someone nearby is yearning—first share or give.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he lays down practical rules of eating that combine notions of ritual purity with social responsibility and generosity.