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 dit : « Même un maître, s’il est enflé d’orgueil, incapable de discerner ce qui doit être fait et ce qui ne doit pas l’être, et s’il a pris une voie dévoyée, doit être renoncé. » La leçon morale est que la vénération du guru repose sur le dharma ; lorsque la guidance elle-même devient adharma par arrogance et confusion éthique, il faut retirer son allégeance plutôt que suivre le tort.

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.