Shloka 30
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
भरतर्षभ! तदनन्तर वह जंगली कुशा, अन्न आदि ओषधि, पवित्र आसन और कुशकी चटाई ले आया ।। अथ दक्षिणमावृत्य बूसीं चरमशैर्षिकीम् । कृतामन्यायतो दृष्ट्वा तं शूद्रमृषिरब्रवीत्,उसने दक्षिण दिशामें ले जाकर ब्राह्मणके लिये पाश्रिमाग्र चटाई बिछा दी। यह शास्त्रके विपरीत अनुचित आचार देखकर ऋषिने शूद्रसे कहा--
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—
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai lembu jantan di antara Bharata! Sesudah itu dia membawa rumput kuśa liar, bekalan seperti makanan dan herba ubatan, sebuah āsana yang disucikan, serta tikar daripada kuśa. Kemudian, menghadap ke arah selatan, dia menghamparkan di tanah suatu ‘carama-śaiṣikī’ untuk brāhmaṇa itu. Melihat perbuatan yang tidak wajar, bertentangan dengan ketetapan śāstra, sang resi pun menegur Śūdra itu…”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.