Shloka 35
Teaching on Karma-yoga
Discipline of Action as Worship
उद्रिक्तोऽपि गुणैरन्यैर्गुरुद्वेषी पतत्यधः । गुरूणामपि सर्वेषां पंच पूज्या विशेषतः
udrikto'pi guṇairanyairgurudveṣī patatyadhaḥ | gurūṇāmapi sarveṣāṃ paṃca pūjyā viśeṣataḥ
Selbst wenn jemand mit vielen anderen Tugenden ausgestattet ist, fällt derjenige, der den Guru hasst oder verachtet, hinab. Unter allen Gurus sind fünf in besonderer Weise zu verehren.
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses of Svarga-khaṇḍa 3.51).
Concept: Virtues cannot compensate for guru-hatred; disrespect to the guru destroys spiritual standing. Five gurus are especially worshipable.
Application: Audit one’s ‘hidden contempt’: sarcasm, dismissiveness, or resentment toward teachers/elders; replace with gratitude practices and concrete service; seek reconciliation before undertaking major worship or vrata.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A morally charged allegory: a radiant figure with many virtues (aura of light, garlands, scriptures) stands at a precipice, but a dark shadow labeled ‘guru-dveṣa’ pulls him downward. Above, five luminous seats of honor symbolize the pañca-guru, with a calm, Viṣṇu-like radiance indicating that reverence is the true safeguard of merit.","primary_figures":["allegorical virtuous person","shadow figure representing guru-dveṣa","five revered guru-figures (symbolic seats or persons)","optional: Viṣṇu radiance as moral witness"],"setting":"Cosmic moral landscape—stairway to svarga and a downward chasm to adhogati; symbolic rather than literal.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["radiant gold","midnight black","vermillion","pearl white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: allegorical svarga-stairway with gold leaf; central figure adorned with virtues yet threatened by a dark form of ‘dveṣa’; five thrones/figures of pañca-guru glowing with halos; ornate borders, gem-like highlights, rich reds and greens, dramatic gold radiance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: symbolic cliff and ascending path; delicate rendering of moral tension—soft luminous halos for the five gurus, subtle shadow for hatred; cool blues and greens with fine linework; distant mountains and a pale sky to suggest consequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and high-contrast moral tableau; five guru figures in iconic frontal posture with stylized eyes; the falling figure angled downward; warm reds/yellows/greens with black shadow motifs and temple-wall framing.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central moral emblem framed by lotus borders; five guru seats as lotus pedestals; gold detailing for halos; deep blue ground with contrasting black shadow patterns; peacocks near the gurus, owls/crows near the chasm."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single conch blast (opening)","low temple drum (mridanga)","bell strikes on 'patatyadhaḥ'","wind-like hush","resolving silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उद्रिक्तोऽपि = उद्रिक्तः + अपि; गुणैरन्यैः = गुणैः + अन्यैः; अन्यैर्गुरुद्वेषी = अन्यैः + गुरुद्वेषी
FAQs
It warns that hostility toward one’s guru undermines all other virtues and leads to spiritual and moral decline.
It implies that virtues are incomplete if they coexist with contempt for one’s teacher; reverence and humility are foundational to learning and dharma.
The verse states that there are five especially venerable gurus but does not list them in this excerpt; the identification typically requires the immediately surrounding verses or traditional commentary for Svarga-khaṇḍa 3.51.