Shloka 48

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

Devanagari script

“गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः । उत्पथप्रतिपन्नस्य परित्यागो विधीयते”

Transliteration

guror apy avaliptasya kāryākāryam ajānataḥ | utpatha-pratipannasya parityāgo vidhīyate ||

Translation

Rāma sprach: „Selbst ein Lehrer, wenn er vom Stolz aufgebläht ist, nicht erkennt, was zu tun und was zu lassen ist, und einen falschen Weg eingeschlagen hat, soll aufgegeben werden.“ Der ethische Kern ist: Verehrung des Guru gründet in Dharma; wird die Führung selbst durch Überheblichkeit und moralische Verwirrung zu Adharma, muss man die Gefolgschaft entziehen, statt dem Unrecht zu folgen.

Word by Word

• {'guroḥ (guru)': 'of the teacher/spiritual preceptor', 'api': 'even', 'avaliptasya': 'of one who is arrogant, puffed up with pride', 'kārya': 'what should be done

• duty', 'akārya': 'what should not be done

• forbidden act', 'ajānataḥ': 'not knowing

• not understanding', 'utpatha': 'wrong path

• deviation from dharma', 'pratipannasya': 'having entered upon

• having adopted', 'parityāgaḥ': 'abandonment

• renunciation', 'vidhīyate': 'is enjoined

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• guru (teacher/preceptor)
• Marutta (Mahātmā Marutta, as cited in the purāṇic reference)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Respect for a guru is not blind: if a teacher becomes arrogant, loses discernment of duty vs. forbidden action, and leads onto an unrighteous path, dharma permits—indeed prescribes—renouncing that guidance rather than participating in adharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rama cites an authoritative maxim (heard in a purāṇic context, attributed to Mahātmā Marutta) to justify a dharmic principle: the disciple is not bound to follow a preceptor who has deviated into wrongful conduct and confused moral judgment.