Shloka 43
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
एवं स बहुशो राजन् पुरोधसमुपाहसत् । लक्षयित्वा पुरोधास्तु बहुशस्तं नराधिपम्
evaṁ sa bahuśo rājan purodhasam upāhasat | lakṣayitvā purodhās tu bahuśas taṁ narādhipam ||
قال بهيشما: «وهكذا، أيها الملك، ظلّ يستهزئ بكاهن البلاط ويُمعن في السخرية منه مرارًا. أمّا البوروهِت، إذ كان يراقب الحاكم مرة بعد مرة، فقد تنبّه لسلوكه وسجّله بعناية.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic norm of restraint and respect: a ruler’s repeated mockery of a priest is ethically blameworthy, and wise counselors observe such conduct to judge character and foresee consequences.
Bhīṣma narrates that a king repeatedly ridiculed his purohita; the priest, instead of reacting impulsively, carefully watched the king’s repeated behavior, indicating a measured response and attentive discernment.