Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
गुर्ववज्ञा मनुष्याणां राक्षसत्वप्रदायिनी । मयानुभूतमेतद्धि ततः श्रीमान्न चाचरेत् ॥ ८३ ॥
gurvavajñā manuṣyāṇāṃ rākṣasatvapradāyinī | mayānubhūtametaddhi tataḥ śrīmānna cācaret || 83 ||
Le manque de respect envers son guru fait choir l’homme dans une disposition démoniaque. J’ai moi-même éprouvé cette vérité ; aussi, l’homme sage et fortuné ne doit jamais la commettre.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It warns that contempt for the guru corrupts one’s inner nature, turning a human mindset toward rākṣasa-like qualities; honoring the guru is presented as essential for spiritual progress.
Bhakti is grounded in humility and reverence; the verse implies that guru-apacāra (offense to the teacher) blocks devotion, while guru-respect safeguards the devotee’s character and receptivity to sacred teaching.
It emphasizes śiṣṭācāra (proper conduct) and the discipline of learning through the guru—an applied principle behind traditional transmission of Vedic studies such as Vyākaraṇa and other Vedāṅgas.