Shloka 25
Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character
गुरवो हि परं धर्म यं ब्रूयुस्तं तथा कुरु । गुरूणां हि प्रसादाद वै श्रेय: परमवाप्स्यसि
guravo hi paraṃ dharmaṃ yaṃ brūyus taṃ tathā kuru | gurūṇāṃ hi prasādād vai śreyaḥ param avāpsyasi, rājan ||
ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ! ਗੁਰੂਜਨ ਜੋ ਉੱਤਮ ਧਰਮ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਕਰਨ, ਉਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਪਾਲਣ ਕਰ। ਗੁਰੂਆਂ ਦੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਾਲ ਤੂੰ ਪਰਮ ਕਲਿਆਣ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰੇਂਗਾ।
कामन्दक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a king (or any seeker) should treat the guidance of qualified gurus as the highest standard for dharma and follow it precisely; the guru’s favor and approval become the means to attaining the supreme welfare (śreyas).
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and governance, Kāmandaka addresses a king, urging him to conform his actions to what his teachers prescribe, emphasizing that the guru’s grace leads to ultimate good.