Shloka 20
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
अवध्या हि सदा माता पिता चाप्यपकारिणौ
avadhyā hi sadā mātā pitā cāpyapakāriṇau |
भीष्म उवाच—अवध्याः हि सदा माता पिता चाप्यपकारिणौ। पितरि मातरि वा दोषं कृतवत्यपि न तौ हिंस्यात् न तिरस्कुर्यात्; न च पुत्रः शिष्यो वा प्रत्यपकारेण संदुष्यति। स्नेहाद् गुरवो जनाः पुत्रे शिष्ये वा दोषान् न स्थापयन्ति; किं तु सदा धर्मपथे नयितुं यतन्ते। एषां मातापित्रादीनां गुरूणां महत्त्वं देवा एव महर्षिभिः सह वेदितुमर्हन्ति॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Parents (and by extension revered elders like teachers) are to be regarded as inviolable; even if they err or cause harm, one should not respond with violence or contempt, but remain oriented to dharma and reform through respect.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira ethical norms of conduct, emphasizing the special, protected status of mother and father and the duty of the younger to respond with restraint and righteousness.