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 ।।
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 disse: “Ó touro entre os Bharatas, depois disso ele trouxe kuśa selvagem, provisões como alimento e ervas medicinais, um assento purificado e uma esteira de kuśa. Então, voltando-se para o sul, estendeu no chão uma ‘carama-śaiṣikī’ para o brāhmaṇa. Vendo essa conduta imprópria, contrária às prescrições do śāstra, o sábio dirigiu-se ao Śūdra e lhe disse…”
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.