Shloka 26
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
एवं सुबहुशस्तस्य शूद्रस्थ भरतर्षभ । सोडगच्छदाश्रममृषि: शूद्रं द्रष्ट नरर्षभ
evaṁ subahuśas tasya śūdrāśramaṁ bharatarṣabha | so ’dṛcchad āśramam ṛṣiḥ śūdraṁ draṣṭuṁ nararṣabha ||
एवं बहुशस्तस्य शूद्रस्य भरतर्षभ । सोऽगच्छदाश्रमं ऋषिः शूद्रं द्रष्टुं नरर्षभ । ततः सानुकूलैर्वाक्यैः शूद्रस्यागमनवृत्तान्तमपृच्छत् । ततः स परमतेजस्वी धर्मात्मा संशितव्रतः ऋषिः पुनः पुनस्तस्य निवेशनमागच्छत् ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic conduct expressed through humility, repeated respectful engagement, and courteous inquiry. A sage’s willingness to visit a Śūdra’s hermitage and speak agreeably underscores that righteousness is shown in behavior—hospitality, openness, and ethical regard—rather than mere status.
Bhishma narrates that an unnamed sage repeatedly goes to the Śūdra’s hermitage to meet him. Afterward, the sage speaks kindly and asks about how and why the Śūdra came there, and from then on continues visiting him many times.