Shloka 40
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
अभिषिक्त: प्रकृतिभी राजपुत्र: स पार्थिव: । नरेश! पिताके परलोकवासी हो जानेपर शुद्ध होनेके पश्चात् मन्त्री और प्रजा आदिने मिलकर उस राजकुमारको राजाके पदपर अभिषिक्त कर दिया ।।
abhīṣiktaḥ prakṛtibhiḥ rājaputraḥ sa pārthivaḥ | nareśa! pitā ke paralokavāsī ho jānepara śuddha honeke paścāt mantrī ca prajā-ādayaś ca militvā taṁ rājakumāraṁ rājapade ’bhyaṣiñcan || abhīṣiktena sa ṛṣir abhīṣiktaḥ purohitaḥ; rājñā abhīṣiktaḥ san sa ṛṣir api purohitapade ’bhyaṣiñcata ||
Bhishma said: “O king, when the father had departed to the next world and the period of purification was completed, the ministers and the people together installed that prince as the sovereign. And along with the king’s consecration, that sage too was consecrated—appointed to the office of royal priest. Thus, rightful succession and the proper ordering of sacred and civic authority were established in accordance with dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule is established through dharmic procedure: after the deceased king’s rites and purification, the realm (ministers and subjects) installs the rightful heir, and sacred authority is simultaneously set in order by appointing a qualified purohita. Political power and ritual guidance are meant to be harmonized.
After the king’s death and the completion of mourning/purification, the ministers and the people jointly perform the prince’s royal consecration (abhiṣeka). At the same time, a sage is installed as the royal priest (purohita), formalizing both governance and religious counsel.