Shloka 173

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणा गुरवश्लेमे तथा मान्या गुरूत्तमा: । त्वं चाथ गुरुरप्येषामेवमन्योन्यगौरवम्‌

Transliteration

brāhmaṇā guravaś ca ime tathā mānyā gurūttamāḥ | tvaṃ cātha gurur apy eṣām evam anyonya-gauravam ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Here the Brahmins are the teachers of all, and there are also many venerable elders—foremost among gurus—seated here. And you too, as king, stand in the position of a teacher to them all. Thus, the honor due to each rests upon the honor of the others, sustained by mutual reverence.”

Word by Word

• {'brāhmaṇāḥ': 'Brahmins

• the priestly/learned class, custodians of Vedic learning', 'guravaḥ': 'teachers

• spiritual and social superiors', 'ime': 'these (present here)', 'tathā': 'and also

• likewise', 'mānyāḥ': 'venerable

• worthy of respect', 'gurūttamāḥ': 'the best among gurus

• highest teachers/elders', 'tvam': 'you', 'atha': 'then

• moreover', 'guruḥ': 'a guru

• one who is to be revered/obeyed', 'api': 'also

• even', 'eṣām': 'of these (persons)', 'evam': 'thus

• in this manner', 'anyonya': 'mutual

• one another', 'gauravam': 'honor, dignity, reverence'}

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmins
• the King (addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that social and moral order is upheld by reciprocal respect: Brahmins guide as teachers, venerable elders deserve honor, and the king also functions as a ‘guru’ through protection and governance. Each group’s dignity is strengthened when it honors the others.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma addresses the king and the assembled elders, emphasizing the hierarchy of respect and the interdependence of authority—spiritual (Brahmins/elders) and temporal (the king).