Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 22

कालनिर्देशः शोकनिवारणं च

Instruction on Kāla and the Removal of Grief

गुरुतल्पं हि गुर्वर्थ न दूषयति मानवम्‌ | उद्दालक: श्वेतकेतुं जनयामास शिष्यत:,गुरुकी आज्ञासे उन्हींके प्रयोजनकी सिद्धिके लिये गुरुकी शय्यापर शयन करना मनुष्यको दूषित नहीं करता है। उद्दालकने अपने पुत्र श्वेतकेतुको शिष्यद्वारा उत्पन्न कराया था

guru-talpaṁ hi gurv-arthaṁ na dūṣayati mānavam | uddālakaḥ śvetaketuṁ janayāmāsa śiṣyataḥ ||

Vyāsa sprach: Sich auf das Lager des Lehrers (gurūtālpa) zu legen, wenn es zum Zweck des Lehrers und auf dessen Geheiß geschieht, befleckt den Menschen nicht. So heißt es, Uddālaka habe seinen Sohn Śvetaketu durch einen Schüler zeugen lassen, gemäß dem Anliegen und der Autorität des Guru.

गुरुतल्पम्the teacher's bed (guru's couch)
गुरुतल्पम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगुरुतल्प
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
गुर्वर्थम्for the teacher's purpose
गुर्वर्थम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु-अर्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
दूषयतिdefiles/corrupts
दूषयति:
TypeVerb
Rootदूष्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Lat
मानवम्a man/person
मानवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमानव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उद्दालकःUddālaka
उद्दालकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउद्दालक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्वेतकेतुम्Śvetaketu
श्वेतकेतुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्वेतकेतु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जनयामासcaused to be born/begot
जनयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootजन्
FormPerfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Lit (periphrastic)
शिष्यतःfrom/through a disciple
शिष्यतः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootशिष्य
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
U
Uddālaka
Ś
Śvetaketu
Ś
śiṣya (disciple)
G
guru-talpa (teacher’s bed)

Educational Q&A

An act normally considered improper becomes non-defiling when performed solely for the guru’s purpose under the guru’s explicit authority; dharma is judged by intention, context, and rightful command, not by a rule in isolation.

Vyāsa cites an illustrative precedent: Uddālaka is said to have arranged for Śvetaketu’s begetting through a disciple, presenting it as an example used in dharma-discussion to show that exceptional circumstances, tied to a guru’s purpose and sanction, can alter the moral status of an act.