Shloka 20
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
अवध्या हि सदा माता पिता चाप्यपकारिणौ,पिता-माता यदि कोई अपराध करें तो भी वे सदा अवध्य ही हैं; क्योंकि पुत्र या शिष्य पिता-माता और गुरुका अपराध करके भी उनकी दृष्टिमें दूषित नहीं होते हैं। वे गुरुजन पुत्र या शिष्यपर स्नेहवश दोषारोपण नहीं करते; बल्कि सदा उसे धर्मके मार्गपर ही ले जानेका प्रयत्न करते हैं। ऐसे पिता-माता आदि गुरुजनोंका महत्त्व महर्षियोंसहित देवता ही जानते हैं
avadhyā hi sadā mātā pitā cāpyapakāriṇau |
Bhīṣma said: “A mother is always inviolable, and so too a father—even if they have acted harmfully. Even when a father or mother commits a fault, they are not to be treated as fit for injury or contempt; for a son (or disciple), though he may perceive their failing, should not become tainted by retaliating against them. Out of affection, such elders do not fix blame upon the child or student; rather, they continually strive to lead him back onto the path of dharma. The true greatness of such parents and preceptors is known fully only to the gods together with the seers.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Parents (and by extension revered elders like teachers) are to be regarded as inviolable; even if they err or cause harm, one should not respond with violence or contempt, but remain oriented to dharma and reform through respect.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira ethical norms of conduct, emphasizing the special, protected status of mother and father and the duty of the younger to respond with restraint and righteousness.