Shloka 26
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
एवं सुबहुशस्तस्य शूद्रस्थ भरतर्षभ । सोडगच्छदाश्रममृषि: शूद्रं द्रष्ट नरर्षभ
evaṁ subahuśas tasya śūdrāśramaṁ bharatarṣabha | so ’dṛcchad āśramam ṛṣiḥ śūdraṁ draṣṭuṁ nararṣabha ||
ビーシュマは言った。「婆羅多族の雄牛よ、その仙人は彼に会いたいと願い、シュードラの庵へ幾度も赴いた。そののち、和やかで心地よい言葉をもって、シュードラがここに至った事情を尋ねた。以来、厳しい誓戒に堅く立つ、きわめて光輝ある正法の仙人は、彼に会うためにたびたびシュードラの住まいを訪れたのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic conduct expressed through humility, repeated respectful engagement, and courteous inquiry. A sage’s willingness to visit a Śūdra’s hermitage and speak agreeably underscores that righteousness is shown in behavior—hospitality, openness, and ethical regard—rather than mere status.
Bhishma narrates that an unnamed sage repeatedly goes to the Śūdra’s hermitage to meet him. Afterward, the sage speaks kindly and asks about how and why the Śūdra came there, and from then on continues visiting him many times.