Vamana Purana — Rules of Purity (Shauca), Shloka 9
Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller
तत्रैव वा गुरोर्गेहे द्विजो निष्ठामवाप्नुयात् गुरोरभावे तत्पुत्रे तच्छिष्ये तत्सुतं विना
tatraiva vā gurorgehe dvijo niṣṭhāmavāpnuyāt gurorabhāve tatputre tacchiṣye tatsutaṃ vinā
There itself, in the guru’s house, the twice-born should attain completion of his discipline (niṣṭhā). If the guru is absent, (he should do so) under the guru’s son or the guru’s disciple—(and) not under the disciple’s son.
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FAQs
The verse safeguards integrity of instruction: spiritual discipline is completed under legitimate authority, ensuring continuity and accountability. It also emphasizes loyalty to the teacher’s institution (kula/āśrama) rather than casual, self-appointed mentorship.
This is prescriptive ācāra material (conduct and institutional norms) rather than sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita, illustrating how purāṇas function as dharma compendia in addition to cosmology and legend.
Restricting authority to the guru, his son, or his direct disciple symbolizes the necessity of a verified living link (paramparā) for śruti-based knowledge—proximity to the source is treated as a marker of reliability.