Shloka 45
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
ततोअब्रवीन्नरेन्द्रे स पुरोधा भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! फिर पुरोहित राजासे इस प्रकार बोले--“महातेजस्वी नरेश! मैं आपका दिया हुआ एक वर प्राप्त करना चाहता हूँ
tato 'bravīn narendre sa purodhā bharatarṣabha | bharataśreṣṭha! punaḥ purohito rājānam evam uvāca— “mahātejasvin nareśa! ahaṁ tvayā dattaṁ ekam varaṁ prārthaye” ||
Then the royal priest addressed the king: “O bull among the Bharatas, O best of the Bharata line, O mighty king, I wish to obtain a single boon that you have granted.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic procedure in governance: boons and requests are framed within formal speech, honorific address, and mutual obligations—kingly generosity on one side and priestly guidance and restraint on the other.
A royal priest speaks to the king, respectfully invoking Bharata-lineage honorifics, and asks to receive a single boon that the king has offered or promised.