Shloka 28
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
गुरुओंके पूजित होनेपर पितरोंसहित देवता और ऋषि भी प्रसन्न होते हैं; इसलिये गुरु परम पूजनीय है ।। केनचिजन्न च वृत्तेन हावज्ञेयो गुरुर्भवेत् । नच माता न च पिता मन्यते यादृशो गुरु:
kenacid janma-vṛttena hāvajñeyo gurur bhavet | na ca mātā na ca pitā manyate yādṛśo guruḥ ||
Bila para guru dihormati, para dewa dan resi pun bersukacita bersama para leluhur; maka guru adalah yang paling layak dipuja. Guru jangan pernah direndahkan karena kelahiran atau keadaan duniawi siapa pun; sebab ibu dan ayah pun tidak dipandang sebanding dengan guru dalam hal kewajiban penghormatan kepada guru॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not disrespect a guru due to birth, caste, livelihood, or outward circumstance; the guru’s dignity rests on the role of imparting knowledge and dharma, a reverence even parents are not said to equal in this context.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on right conduct, emphasizing the exceptional reverence owed to the teacher and warning against contempt based on social markers.