Shloka 25
पादेन नाक्रमेत् पादं न पूज्याभिमुखं नयेत् वीरासनं गुरोर् अग्रे भजेत विनयान्वितः
pādena nākramet pādaṃ na pūjyābhimukhaṃ nayet vīrāsanaṃ guror agre bhajeta vinayānvitaḥ
پاؤں سے کسی کے پاؤں پر پاؤں نہ رکھو؛ قابلِ تعظیم کے روبرو رخ کر کے یوں نہ چلو گویا مقابلہ ہو۔ گرو کے سامنے ادب و انکسار کے ساتھ ویرآسن میں بیٹھو۔
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Guru-sevā and etiquette: bodily respect, non-confrontational movement, and proper seating (vīrāsana) before the teacher
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Humility is enacted through bodily etiquette—do not disrespect others physically, do not ‘confront’ the venerable, and sit properly before the guru with disciplined courtesy.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice embodied reverence: attentive posture in learning spaces, non-aggressive body language, and consistent respect toward teachers/elders.
Vishishtadvaita: Guru-sevā as a bhakti-limb: honoring the teacher supports surrender (prapatti) and receptivity to knowledge of the personal Brahman, Nārāyaṇa.
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse frames vinaya as a visible discipline of body and behavior—restraint and respectful posture—by which dharma is preserved in daily life, especially before the guru.
He teaches concrete etiquette: avoid disrespectful bodily actions (like stepping on another’s foot or moving about in a confrontational manner) and sit properly (vīrāsana) with deference in the guru’s presence.
Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the Purana’s dharma-instructions function as supports for devotion and right understanding—disciplines that orient the student toward the Supreme Reality (Vishnu) through reverent learning.