Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 41
Devanagari script
गुरूणां सन्निधौ वापि नोच्चैर्ब्रु यान्नवाहयेत्
Transliteration
gurūṇāṃ sannidhau vāpi noccairbru yānnavāhayet
Translation
بزرگوں اور اساتذہ کی موجودگی میں بھی نہ بلند آواز سے بات کرے، نہ بےادبی یا بےتکلفی سے پیش آئے۔
Word by Word
गुरूणाम्of elders/teachers
गुरूणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
सन्निधौin the presence
सन्निधौ:
Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध (negation particle)
उच्चैःloudly
उच्चैः:
Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउच्चैः (अव्यय)
Formरीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)
ब्रूयात्should speak
ब्रूयात्:
Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ब्रू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध (negation particle)
अवहयेत्should disrespect/insult
अवहयेत्:
Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअव-√हय्/√ह्वय् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः ‘अवहेलयेत्’ (to disrespect)
Speaker
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa narrative voice; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa conveying dharma-teaching)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: An āśrama or household hall: elders seated; a younger person stands with folded hands, speaking softly or remaining silent, eyes lowered in respect.
FAQs
Respect toward gurus and elders is shown through humility, soft speech, and self-restraint.
No holy site is named in this verse.
No ritual; it prescribes decorum in the guru’s presence.