Shloka 13
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
अथास्य बुद्धिरभवत् तपस्ये भरतर्षभ । ततोअ<ब्रवीत् कुलपति पादौ संगृह्म भारत,भारत! भरतभूषण! उसके मनमें वहाँ तपस्या करनेका विचार उत्पन्न हुआ; अतः उसने कुलपतिके पैर पकड़कर कहा--
athāsya buddhir abhavat tapasyai bharatarṣabha | tato 'bravīt kulapatiṃ pādau saṃgṛhya bhārata ||
അപ്പോൾ, ഹേ ഭരതശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, അവന്റെ മനസ്സിൽ അവിടെയേ തപസ്സു ചെയ്യണമെന്ന ചിന്ത ഉദിച്ചു; അതിനാൽ അവൻ ആശ്രമാധിപന്റെ പാദങ്ങൾ പിടിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞു।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true tapas begins with inner resolve (buddhi) and is grounded in humility and proper conduct toward one’s teacher/elder (grasping the kulapati’s feet), presenting ascetic effort as an ethical, disciplined choice.
A character (referred to as ‘he’) decides to perform austerities at that place; he approaches the kulapati, respectfully takes hold of his feet, and then speaks—signaling a request for permission, guidance, or blessing before beginning the practice.