Shloka 1
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
अपन क्राता बछ। अं काज दशमो< ध्याय: अनधिकारीको उपदेश देनेसे हानिके विषयमें एक शूद्र और तपस्वी ब्राह्मणकी कथा युधिछिर उवाच मित्रसौहार्दयोगेन उपदेशं करोति यः । जात्याधरस्य राजर्षेदोषस्तस्य भवेन्न वा
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: mitra-sauhārda-yogena upadeśaṃ karoti yaḥ | jāty-adharasya rājarṣe doṣas tasya bhaven na vā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Ô sage royal, si un homme, poussé par l’amitié et la bienveillance, donne un enseignement à quelqu’un d’un rang social inférieur, cet acte lui attire-t-il une faute—ou non ? Je veux le savoir avec justesse. Explique-le en détail, car la marche du dharma est subtile, et les hommes s’y laissent aisément prendre par l’illusion.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical dilemma: whether the moral status of giving guidance depends on the recipient’s social rank, or on the giver’s intention and the nature of the counsel. It highlights that dharma is subtle and must be judged carefully, not by simplistic rules.
Yudhiṣṭhira asks the elder authority (Bhīṣma) to clarify whether a person incurs fault by instructing someone considered socially ‘lower,’ when the instruction is motivated by friendship and goodwill. This question introduces a discussion (and later an illustrative story) about the risks and propriety of giving counsel to the unqualified.