Shloka 7

अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः

Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal

Devanagari script

गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानत: । उत्पथप्रतिपन्नस्य दण्डो भवति शाश्वत:,“घमंडमें भरकर कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्यका ज्ञान न रखनेवाला तथा कुमार्गपर चलनेवाला मुनष्य यदि अपना गुरु हो तो उसे भी दण्ड देनेका सनातन विधान है'

Transliteration

guror apy avaliptasya kāryākāryam ajānataḥ | utpatha-pratipannasya daṇḍo bhavati śāśvataḥ ||

Translation

ଅହଙ୍କାରେ ମତ୍ତ ହୋଇ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ–ଅକର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ନ ଜାଣି କୁପଥରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ଗୁରୁ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦେବା ଶାଶ୍ୱତ ବିଧାନ ଅଟେ।

Word by Word

गुरोःof the teacher

अपिeven/also

अवलिप्तस्यof (one who is) arrogant/conceited

कार्यwhat ought to be done (duty)

अकार्यwhat ought not to be done (improper act)

अजानतःof (one who is) not knowing

उत्पथon the wrong path

प्रतिपन्नस्यof (one who has) taken to / followed

दण्डःpunishment

भवतिis/occurs

शाश्वतःeternal/perpetual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Guru (as an ethical role/authority figure)

Daṇḍa (punishment, as a principle of governance)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

No social or spiritual status grants exemption from dharma: if a guru becomes arrogant, loses discernment of duty and prohibition, and follows a wrongful path, then applying lawful punishment is upheld as an ancient, enduring rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma lays down a normative principle for rulers and society: discipline (daṇḍa) is meant to protect righteousness, and it may extend even to revered figures like a guru when their conduct becomes harmful and adharma-driven.