Shloka 24
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
वह मानसिक संकल्पोंका नियन्त्रण (चित्तवृतियोंका निरोध) करते हुए फल खाकर रहता और इन्द्रियोंको काबूमें रखता था। उसके यहाँ जो अन्न और फल उपस्थित रहता, उन्हींके द्वारा प्रतिदिन आये हुए अतिथियोंका यथोचित सत्कार करता था। इस प्रकार रहते हुए उस शूद्र मुनिको बहुत समय बीत गया ।।
atha asya munir āgacchat saṅgatyā vai tam āśramam | sampūjya svāgatena ṛṣiḥ vidhivat samatoṣayat ||
He restrained the mind’s intentions (checking the mind’s fluctuations), lived on fruits, and kept his senses under control. With whatever grain and fruits were at hand, he honored the guests who came each day in a fitting manner. Living thus, much time passed for that Śūdra muni. Then, in the course of his wanderings, a sage came to his hermitage. The ascetic welcomed him properly, honored the ṛṣi according to rite, and satisfied him in the prescribed way.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: even an ascetic life must be grounded in disciplined, rule-guided hospitality—honoring and satisfying a guest properly is a concrete expression of dharma and self-mastery.
A travelling sage arrives at the hermitage. The resident ascetic receives him with formal welcome and due honors, and provides what is appropriate so that the guest is pleased, indicating sustained righteous conduct over time.