Shloka 74
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
वक्तव्यमिह पृष्टेन विनिश्ित्य विनिश्चयम् | स चोपदेश: कर्तव्यो येन धर्ममवाप्रुयात्
vaktavyam iha pṛṣṭena viniścitya viniścayam | sa copadeśaḥ kartavyo yena dharmam avāpnuyāt |
Bila ditanya, hendaknya seseorang berbicara setelah menimbang dengan saksama, menyatakan kesimpulan yang telah mantap menurut śāstra; dan ajaran yang diberikan haruslah yang menuntun pada perolehan dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should answer questions only after thoughtful discernment, conveying the established conclusion of the scriptures, and one’s counsel should be aimed at guiding the listener toward dharma rather than toward mere cleverness, victory in debate, or personal gain.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on right conduct. Here he lays down a rule for ethical instruction: respond to inquiries with well-considered, authoritative guidance that genuinely helps the seeker progress in dharma.