उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
भरतर्षभ! तदनन्तर वह जंगली कुशा, अन्न आदि ओषधि, पवित्र आसन और कुशकी चटाई ले आया ।।
bharatarṣabha! tadanantaraṃ sa jaṅgalīṃ kuśām, anna-ādi oṣadhīḥ, pavitram āsanaṃ ca kuśakīṃ ca caṭikām ājahāra. atha dakṣiṇam āvṛtya bhūmau caramaśaiṣikīm kṛtām anyāyato dṛṣṭvā taṃ śūdram ṛṣir abravīt—
Sesudah itu ia menghadap ke selatan dan menghamparkan ‘carama-śaiṣikī’ (sejenis alas duduk/hamparan tertentu) bagi sang brāhmaṇa. Melihat tata cara yang tidak semestinya—bertentangan dengan śāstra—sang resi menegur Śūdra itu dan berkata kepadanya—
भीष्म उवाच
The passage highlights that ethical and ritual actions (such as how one prepares a seat and the direction faced) are expected to align with śāstric norms; when conduct deviates from prescribed propriety, a learned authority (the ṛṣi) corrects it, emphasizing discipline and accountability in dharma-based practice.
After gathering ritual items—kuśa grass, provisions, herbs, and a purified seat—the person arranges a specific bedding/seat while facing south for a Brahmin. The sage observes this as improper according to śāstra and begins to admonish or instruct the Śūdra responsible for the arrangement.