Shloka 58
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
अहं राजा च विप्रेन्द्र पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम् । मत्कृतस्योपदेशस्य त्वयावाप्तमिदं फलम्,विप्रेन्द्र! यह कालका उलट-फेर तो देखिये कि मैं तो शूद्रसे राजा हो गया और मुझे ही उपदेश करनेके कारण आपको यह फल मिला
ahaṃ rājā ca viprendra paśya kālasya paryayam | matkṛtasyopadeśasya tvayāvāptam idaṃ phalam ||
ఓ విప్రేంద్రా! కాలం చేసిన ఈ విపర్యయాన్ని చూడు—నేను రాజునయ్యాను; నేను ఇచ్చిన ఉపదేశానికి ఫలంగా ఇది నీకు లభించింది.
पुरोहित उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kāla (Time) and karma: outcomes can invert social positions and expectations, and even well-meant counsel can yield unforeseen consequences. It urges humility and ethical caution in giving advice, recognizing that results unfold under the larger movement of Time.
A priest addresses a brāhmaṇa, pointing to a dramatic reversal: the speaker has risen to kingship, while the addressee has received a particular consequence. The priest frames this as the ‘turning of Time’ and as the fruit connected to the instruction he previously gave.