Shloka 15
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
वर्णावरो5हं भगवन् शूद्रो जात्यास्मि सत्तम | शुश्रूषां कर्तुमिच्छामि प्रपन्नाय प्रसीद मे
varṇāvaro’ham bhagavan śūdro jātyāsmi sattama | śuśrūṣāṁ kartum icchāmi prapannāya prasīda me ||
Bhishma sprach: «O Gesegneter, o Bester der Guten! Ich bin der Niedrigste unter den varṇa, ein Śūdra von Geburt. Ich möchte hier bleiben und den Heiligen in hingebungsvoller Dienstbarkeit dienen. Sei mir gnädig, denn ich bin zu dir gekommen, um Zuflucht zu suchen.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and the ethical ideal of śuśrūṣā—devoted service to the virtuous—as a path of dharma. It also emphasizes śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the speaker appeals for grace not on status, but on sincere surrender and willingness to serve.
A speaker (introduced as “Bhīṣma uvāca” in the chapter framing) voices a supplicant’s plea to a revered holy figure, identifying himself as socially low (Śūdra by birth) and asking permission and blessing to stay and serve the saints, requesting compassionate acceptance as one who has taken refuge.