Shloka 15
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
वर्णावरो5हं भगवन् शूद्रो जात्यास्मि सत्तम | शुश्रूषां कर्तुमिच्छामि प्रपन्नाय प्रसीद मे
varṇāvaro’ham bhagavan śūdro jātyāsmi sattama | śuśrūṣāṁ kartum icchāmi prapannāya prasīda me ||
Бхишма сказал: «О Благословенный, о лучший из добрых! Я — низший среди варн, шудра по рождению. Я желаю остаться здесь и преданно служить святым мужам. Будь милостив ко мне, ибо я пришёл к тебе, ища прибежища».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and the ethical ideal of śuśrūṣā—devoted service to the virtuous—as a path of dharma. It also emphasizes śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the speaker appeals for grace not on status, but on sincere surrender and willingness to serve.
A speaker (introduced as “Bhīṣma uvāca” in the chapter framing) voices a supplicant’s plea to a revered holy figure, identifying himself as socially low (Śūdra by birth) and asking permission and blessing to stay and serve the saints, requesting compassionate acceptance as one who has taken refuge.