Shloka 42
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तमुपाध्याय: प्रत्युवाच नैषा न्याय्या गुरुवृत्तिरन्येषामपि भैक्ष्योपजीविनां वृत्त्युपरोधं करोषि इत्येवं वर्तमानो लुब्धोडसीति,यह सुनकर उपाध्यायने कहा--“यह न्याययुक्त एवं श्रेष्ठ वृत्ति नहीं है। तुम ऐसा करके दूसरे भिक्षाजीवी लोगोंकी जीविकामें बाधा डालते हो; अतः लोभी हो (तुम्हें दुबारा भिक्षा नहीं लानी चाहिये)”
tam upādhyāyaḥ pratyuvāca—naiṣā nyāyyā guru-vṛttir anyeṣām api bhaikṣyopajīvināṁ vṛtty-uparodhaṁ karoṣi; ity evaṁ vartamāno lubdho ’si.
Sumagot ang guro: “Hindi ito makatarungan ni kapuri-puring paraan ng ikabubuhay para sa isang nasa ilalim ng guru. Sa paggawa nito, hinahadlangan mo rin ang kabuhayan ng iba—yaong nabubuhay sa limos. Sa ganyang asal, ipinakikita mong ikaw ay sakim; kaya huwag ka nang lumabas upang mangalap pa ng limos.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
A livelihood must be pursued in a way that is fair and non-harmful to others. Even if one can obtain alms or resources, doing so in a manner that blocks others’ subsistence—especially the truly needy—violates propriety (nyāya/dharma) and reveals greed.
After hearing Rāma’s conduct regarding obtaining alms, the teacher (upādhyāya) responds with a moral reprimand: such behavior is not befitting a guru-like role, because it interferes with the livelihood of other alms-dependent people; therefore the teacher labels the conduct as greedy and discourages repeating it.