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Shloka 15

Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries

देवद्रोहं न कुर्वीत गुरुद्रोहं तथैव च । देवद्रोहाद्गुरुद्रोहः कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकः

devadrohaṃ na kurvīta gurudrohaṃ tathaiva ca | devadrohādgurudrohaḥ koṭikoṭiguṇādhikaḥ

อย่ากระทำการทรยศต่อเหล่าเทวะ และอย่าทรยศต่อครูบาอาจารย์ด้วย เพราะการทรยศต่อครูนั้นหนักยิ่งกว่าทรยศต่อเทวะเป็นโกฏิโกฏิเท่า

देव-द्रोहम्treachery against the gods
देव-द्रोहम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवस्य द्रोहः)
not
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
कुर्वीतshould do
कुर्वीत:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
FormOptative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
गुरु-द्रोहम्treachery against one’s teacher
गुरु-द्रोहम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः द्रोहः)
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)
एवindeed/just
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
देव-द्रोहात्than/from treachery against the gods
देव-द्रोहात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः
गुरु-द्रोहःtreachery against the teacher
गुरु-द्रोहः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः
कोटि-कोटि-गुण-अधिकःgreater by crores upon crores of times
कोटि-कोटि-गुण-अधिकः:
Karta-pradhana-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः (कोटिकोटिभिः गुणैः अधिकः = many-crore-fold greater)

Unspecified (narratorial/teachings context within Svarga-khaṇḍa)

Concept: Guru-droha (betrayal of the spiritual teacher) is an extreme transgression, graver than deva-droha.

Application: Maintain fidelity to one’s teacher’s instructions, avoid slander or disobedience, seek forgiveness quickly if offense occurs, and cultivate gratitude through service (guru-sevā).

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciple kneels before a radiant guru seated on a simple āsana, while above them the devas appear as luminous witnesses. On one side, a cracked mirror symbolizes betrayal; on the other, a flowing stream of light from the guru’s mouth becomes mantra-letters entering the disciple’s heart, showing why guru-droha is spiritually catastrophic.","primary_figures":["guru (ācārya)","disciple (śiṣya)","witnessing devas (subtle, in the sky)"],"setting":"Hermitage courtyard with a sacred fire, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a small Viṣṇu icon; a boundary line separating ‘seva’ from ‘droha’ symbolism.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance centered on the guru, with stern shadow on the ‘droha’ side","color_palette":["sun-gold","saffron","deep maroon","ash white","peacock blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central guru with gold-leaf halo, seated near homa-kuṇḍa and Viṣṇu icon; disciple offering folded hands and flowers; upper register shows devas in miniature with shimmering gold; a symbolic broken mirror and darkened corner represent guru-droha; rich reds/greens, ornate borders, gem-like highlights on manuscripts and altar.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate guru-śiṣya scene under a flowering tree, delicate lines and soft gradients; devas as faint luminous forms in the sky; the disciple’s face shows remorse and reverence; cool blues and greens with warm saffron accents, refined naturalism and gentle hills in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized guru with large eyes and calm authority; devas arranged in a semicircle above; mantra syllables painted as flowing ribbons; red-yellow-green palette with black contouring, temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central sanctified space with floral borders; guru and disciple framed by lotus vines; subtle śaṅkha-cakra motifs indicating Viṣṇu’s sanction of guru-tattva; gold and deep blue background, intricate textile-like patterning, peacocks at corners as guardians of dharma."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","temple bells","fire crackle","brief emphatic pauses on 'gurudroham'"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवद्रोहं→देव-द्रोहम्; गुरुद्रोहं→गुरु-द्रोहम्; देवद्रोहाद्गुरुद्रोहः→देव-द्रोहात् गुरु-द्रोहः (द्+ग् sandhi); कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकः→कोटि-कोटि-गुण-अधिकः

FAQs

It teaches that betrayal or harm toward the guru is an exceptionally grave offense, even more severe than wrongdoing toward the gods, emphasizing reverence, loyalty, and moral restraint in the teacher–disciple relationship.

In the Purāṇic worldview, the guru is the living guide who reveals dharma and spiritual knowledge; betraying that source of guidance is portrayed as a profoundly destructive act, hence described as vastly more serious.

It encourages sincere respect for teachers and mentors, avoidance of slander or sabotage, and careful conduct (ācāra) in learning relationships—seeing gratitude and integrity as essential elements of dharma.