Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 80

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

गुरुणा चैव निर्बन्धो न कर्तव्य: कदाचन । अनुमान्य: प्रसाद्यश्न गुरु: क्रुद्धो युधिष्ठिर

Transliteration

guruṇā caiva nirbandho na kartavyaḥ kadācana | anumānyaḥ prasādyāśna guruḥ kruddho yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Huwag kailanman makipagtalo nang matigas ang ulo sa sariling guro. Sa halip, igalang ang guro at payapain siya nang marahan. Kahit nagagalit ang guro, O Yudhiṣṭhira, hanapin ang pagkakasundo at panatilihin ang paggalang.

Word by Word

• गुरुणा: by/with the teacher
• गुरुणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• निर्बन्धः: insistence/pressing demand
• निर्बन्धः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्बन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• कर्तव्यः: to be done/should be done
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Gerundive (तव्यत्), passive necessity

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

• अनुमान्यः: to be assented to/treated with compliance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Gerundive (ण्यत्), passive necessity

• प्रसाद्य: having pleased/after pacifying
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + सद्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अश्न: eat (you should eat)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past participle (क्त)

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• guru (teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not engage in obstinate insistence or confrontation with one’s teacher; instead, uphold dharma through respect, patience, and conciliatory conduct—especially when the teacher is displeased.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira in the Anuśāsana Parva, he lays down a rule of ethical behavior regarding the guru: even if the guru becomes angry, the disciple should not contend but should honor and appease the teacher.