Shloka 47
स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्
Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame
इत्य् उक्त्वा समुपेत्यैनं स तु केशिध्वजं नृपम् उवाच किम् अवश्यं त्वं ददासि गुरुदक्षिणाम्
ity uktvā samupetyainaṃ sa tu keśidhvajaṃ nṛpam uvāca kim avaśyaṃ tvaṃ dadāsi gurudakṣiṇām
Having spoken thus, he approached King Keśidhvaja and asked: “What, as a matter of obligation, will you give as guru-dakṣiṇā—the due offering to the teacher?”
Khaṇḍikya (the seeker/disciple), addressing King Keśidhvaja as guru
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Transition into a teacher-disciple exchange within the royal narrative, foregrounding the sanctity of instruction.
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: True learning is sealed by humility and offering—guru-dakṣiṇā symbolizes surrender and gratitude to the teacher of truth.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Approach mentors with humility; repay guidance through service, integrity, and supporting the transmission of knowledge.
Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is received through grace mediated by the guru; surrender (śaraṇāgati) harmonizes personal effort with divine dispensation.
Dharma Exemplar: Guru-bhakti / śiṣya-dharma (honoring instruction with proper dakṣiṇā)
Key Kings: Khāṇḍikya, Keśidhvaja
FAQs
In this verse, guru-dakṣiṇā marks the disciple’s formal acknowledgment that sacred knowledge is received through disciplined transmission and must be honored through an offered repayment, not treated as a casual transaction.
By placing Keśidhvaja in the role of teacher, the narrative presents ideal sovereignty as aligned with dharma and wisdom—political power is shown as subordinate to, and validated by, right knowledge.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic frame assumes that true knowledge and dharma ultimately derive from the Supreme Reality (Vishnu); honoring the guru becomes a practical expression of reverence for that divine order.