Shloka 4
चत्वारोऽाश्रमाः — ब्रह्मचर्यादि मोक्षाश्रमपर्यन्तम्
The Four Āśramas as a graded path to mokṣa
स्थिते तिष्ठेद् व्रजेद् याते नीचैर् आसीत चासति शिष्यो गुरौ नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रतिकूलं न संचरेत्
sthite tiṣṭhed vrajed yāte nīcair āsīta cāsati śiṣyo gurau nṛpaśreṣṭha pratikūlaṃ na saṃcaret
அரசர்களில் சிறந்தவனே, குரு நின்றால் சீடன் நிற்க வேண்டும்; குரு நடந்தால் பின்தொடர வேண்டும்; குரு அமர்ந்தால் தாழ்மையுடன் அமர வேண்டும். குருவின் முன்னிலையில் சீடன் ஒருபோதும் எதிர்மறையாக நடக்கக் கூடாது.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressed as 'O best of kings' in the didactic style)
FAQs
This verse frames humility and obedience to the guru as a practical expression of dharma—outer order that cultivates inner fitness for higher knowledge and devotion.
By giving concrete etiquette—stand when the guru stands, follow when he walks, sit humbly when he sits—Parāśara presents reverence as lived practice, not merely belief.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the discipline taught is a preparatory path: reverent service and self-restraint align the disciple with dharma, leading toward devotion and right understanding of Vishnu as the supreme ground of order.