Shloka 40
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
अभिषिक्त: प्रकृतिभी राजपुत्र: स पार्थिव: । नरेश! पिताके परलोकवासी हो जानेपर शुद्ध होनेके पश्चात् मन्त्री और प्रजा आदिने मिलकर उस राजकुमारको राजाके पदपर अभिषिक्त कर दिया ।।
abhīṣiktaḥ prakṛtibhiḥ rājaputraḥ sa pārthivaḥ | nareśa! pitā ke paralokavāsī ho jānepara śuddha honeke paścāt mantrī ca prajā-ādayaś ca militvā taṁ rājakumāraṁ rājapade ’bhyaṣiñcan || abhīṣiktena sa ṛṣir abhīṣiktaḥ purohitaḥ; rājñā abhīṣiktaḥ san sa ṛṣir api purohitapade ’bhyaṣiñcata ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O hari, nang pumanaw na ang ama patungo sa kabilang daigdig at natapos ang panahon ng paglilinis, ang mga ministro at ang bayan ay nagkaisa upang isagawa ang abhisheka at iluklok ang prinsipe bilang pinuno. At kasabay ng pagluklok sa hari, ang pantas na iyon ay niluklok din—hinirang sa tungkulin ng purohita, ang saserdoteng pang-angkan ng hari. Sa gayon, ang wastong pagmamana ng trono at ang tamang kaayusan ng banal at sibil na kapangyarihan ay naitatag ayon sa dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule is established through dharmic procedure: after the deceased king’s rites and purification, the realm (ministers and subjects) installs the rightful heir, and sacred authority is simultaneously set in order by appointing a qualified purohita. Political power and ritual guidance are meant to be harmonized.
After the king’s death and the completion of mourning/purification, the ministers and the people jointly perform the prince’s royal consecration (abhiṣeka). At the same time, a sage is installed as the royal priest (purohita), formalizing both governance and religious counsel.