Shloka 20
Ātma-saṃyama-dharma: One-pointedness of Mind and Senses (शुक–व्यास संवादः)
शुचिर्दक्षो गुणोपेतो ब्रूयादिष्टमिवान्तरा । चक्षुषा गुरुमव्यग्रो निरीक्षेत जितेन्द्रिय:
śucir dakṣo guṇopeto brūyād iṣṭam ivāntarā | cakṣuṣā gurum avyagro nirīkṣeta jitendriyaḥ ||
Hendaklah murid itu suci lahir batin, cekatan dalam tugas, dan berhias kebajikan. Dengan niat baik di dalam hati, sesekali ucapkan kata-kata yang menyenangkan sang guru. Tanpa gelisah dan dengan pengendalian indria, pandanglah guru dengan tatapan tenang penuh bhakti.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciple’s dharma is disciplined character: inner and outer purity, competence in service, cultivation of virtues, controlled speech that pleases the teacher without flattery, respectful attentive gaze, and mastery over the senses.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vyāsa lays down behavioral norms for a student in relation to the guru—how to speak, how to look, and how to maintain self-control—framing discipleship as ethical training.