Shloka 56
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
प्रीयता हि तदा ब्रह्मन् ममानुग्रहबुद्धिना । पितृकार्ये त्वया पूर्वमुपदेश: कृतोडनघ
prīyatā hi tadā brahman mamānugraha-buddhinā | pitṛkārye tvayā pūrvam upadeśaḥ kṛto 'naghā ||
Ó brâmane sem mácula, naqueles dias tinhas por mim grande afeição. Por isso, com a intenção de me favorecer, instruíste-me antes no procedimento correto dos ritos devidos aos ancestrais.
पुरोहित उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed through proper performance of ancestral rites and the ethical responsibility of a learned person to guide others in correct ritual procedure, motivated by goodwill (anugraha).
The priest-speaker addresses a Brahmin, recalling an earlier time when the Brahmin was affectionate toward him and, out of benevolence, taught him the necessary method for performing pitṛkārya (rites for the ancestors).