Shloka 183
शीलवृत्तमविज्ञाय धास्यामि विनयं परम् | तुम्हारे मूर्ख पिताको भी मैं जला दूँगा, जो तुम्हारे इस अन्यायको नहीं जानता है तथा जिसने तुम्हारे शील और सदाचारको जाने बिना ही मन्त्रका उपदेश दिया है, उस ब्राह्मणको भी अच्छी सीख दूँगा
śīlavṛttam avijñāya dhāsyāmi vinayaṃ param |
Sūrya declares that, without first understanding a person’s character and conduct, he will administer the severest discipline: he threatens to burn the foolish father who fails to recognize the injustice done to the speaker’s side, and to chastise even the Brahmin who, without discerning the recipients’ true virtue and behavior, imparted the mantra. The verse underscores that spiritual instruction and authority must be guided by discernment and justice, not blind transmission or negligence toward wrongdoing.
सूर्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Instruction and power must be exercised with discernment: one should first ascertain a person’s character and conduct before granting sacred knowledge or authority, and one must not ignore injustice; negligence in these matters invites severe moral accountability.
Sūrya speaks in anger, announcing harsh corrective action: he threatens to burn an ignorant father who does not recognize the injustice involved, and to reprimand the Brahmin who taught a mantra without first judging the recipients’ true virtue and behavior.