Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 154
ज्येष्ठ-कनिष्ठ-धर्मः — Duties of Elders and Juniors
Anuśāsana-parva 108
Devanagari script
आचारो भूतिजनन आचार: कीर्तिवर्धन: । आचाराद् वर्धते ह्यायुराचारो हन्त्यलक्षणम्
Transliteration
ācāro bhūtijanana ācāraḥ kīrtivardhanaḥ | ācārād vardhate hy āyur ācāro hanti alakṣaṇam ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“善行是福祉之源，善行亦能增长名声。由善行，寿命确实得以延长；善行还能摧灭不祥的征兆与恶劣的习气。”
Word by Word
आचारःgood conduct
आचारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआचार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भूतिजननःproducer of prosperity
भूतिजननः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभूति-जनन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
आचारःgood conduct
आचारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआचार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कीर्तिवर्धनःincreaser of fame
कीर्तिवर्धनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकीर्ति-वर्धन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
आचारात्from good conduct
आचारात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootआचार
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
वर्धतेincreases
वर्धते:
TypeVerb
Rootवृध्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
हिindeed
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
आयुःlife-span
आयुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआयुस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
आचारःgood conduct
आचारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआचार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हन्तिdestroys
हन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
अलक्षणम्bad sign; misfortune-mark
अलक्षणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअ-लक्षण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
That sadācāra (right conduct) is a foundational power: it generates welfare and prosperity, increases one’s good name, supports longevity, and removes inauspicious traits—therefore ethical discipline is central to dharma.
In the Anushasana Parva’s dharma-instruction, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on righteous living, highlighting the practical fruits of good conduct as part of his broader ethical and social guidance.