Shloka 42
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
पुण्याहवाचने नित्यं धर्मकार्येषु चासकृत् । उत्स्मयन् प्राहसच्चापि दृष्टवा राजा पुरोहितम्
puṇyāhavācane nityaṃ dharmakāryeṣu cāsakṛt | utsmayan prāhasaccāpi dṛṣṭvā rājā purohitam ||
قال بهيشما: «كان كاهنُ الملك (البوروهِت) يُجري كلَّ يومٍ الإعلاناتِ المباركة، ويُواظب مرارًا على أعمالِ الدَّرما؛ فإذا رآه الملكُ تارةً ابتسم، وتارةً انفجر ضاحكًا بصوتٍ عالٍ.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds proper regard for dharmic practice and its custodians: even when ritual is performed regularly and sincerely, a ruler’s attitude—respectful or mocking—has ethical weight, because it shapes the moral tone of the court and society.
Bhishma describes a scene where the royal priest performs daily auspicious rites and remains engaged in dharma-works; the king watches and alternates between smiling and laughing loudly, implying amusement or derision toward the priest’s religious conduct.