Shloka 17
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
इन्द्र वाच मातापित्रो्हिं शुश्रूषा कर्तव्या सर्वदस्युभि: । आचार्यगुरुशुश्रूषा तथैवाश्रमवासिनाम्,इन्द्रने कहा--राजन्! जो लोग दस्यु-वृत्तिसे जीवन निर्वाह करते हैं, उन सबको अपने माता-पिता, आचार्य, गुरु तथा आश्रमवासी मुनियोंकी सेवा करनी चाहिये
indra uvāca: mātāpitroḥ hi śuśrūṣā kartavyā sarva-dasyubhiḥ | ācārya-guru-śuśrūṣā tathaivāśrama-vāsinām ||
Indra disse: “Mesmo aqueles que vivem pelos caminhos dos fora da lei devem sempre prestar serviço devotado à mãe e ao pai; do mesmo modo devem servir ao mestre e ao preceptor espiritual, e, da mesma maneira, atender aos sábios que habitam nos eremitérios.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Service (śuśrūṣā) to parents, teachers, and hermitage-dwelling sages is presented as a non-negotiable duty that applies universally—even to those living by wrongful means—showing that foundational obligations of gratitude and reverence stand above one’s profession or moral lapses.
Indra is instructing a king in a dharma-teaching context, emphasizing that even ‘dasyus’ (outlaws) are bound by basic norms of conduct: honoring parents, serving one’s ācārya and guru, and respecting ascetics in āśramas.