Shloka 4

Teaching of Karma-yoga

Student Conduct, Vedic Study, and Gāyatrī Supremacy

Devanagari script

नीचैः शय्यासनं चास्य सर्वदा गुरुसन्निधौ । गुरोस्तु चक्षुर्विषयेन यथेष्टासनो भवेत्

Transliteration

nīcaiḥ śayyāsanaṃ cāsya sarvadā gurusannidhau | gurostu cakṣurviṣayena yatheṣṭāsano bhavet

Translation

Trong sự hiện diện của Guru, luôn đặt giường và chỗ ngồi của mình ở mức thấp hơn; và chỉ ngồi nơi thích hợp trong tầm mắt của Guru, không tùy tiện theo ý mình.

Word by Word

• नीचैः: low; below
• नीचैः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नीचैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — “low/down”

• शय्या-आसनम्: bed and seat
• शय्या-आसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — here accusative singular as object; समासः शय्या च आसनं च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्य: of him (the student)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular pronoun “of him/for him”

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time/कालवाचक)

• गुरुसन्निधौ: in the presence of the teacher
• गुरुसन्निधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — locative singular; समासः गुरोः सन्निधिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis-contrast)

• चक्षुः-विषयेन: by the range of (the teacher's) sight
• चक्षुः-विषयेन: Karana (Measure/criterion/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् + विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — instrumental singular; समासः चक्षुषः विषयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• यथा-इष्ट-आसनः: seated as he likes (appropriately)
• यथा-इष्ट-आसनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + इष्ट + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular; अव्ययीभावः: यथेष्ट (as desired) + आसनः “having a seat”; overall “one whose seat is as desired (within sight)”

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — “should be/become”

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial/instructional voice within the Svarga-khaṇḍa’s discourse on conduct)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चास्य = च + अस्य (अ + अ → आ). गुरोस्तु = गुरोः + तु (ः + त → स्त). चक्षुर्विषयेन = चक्षुः + विषयेन (ः + व → र्व). यथेष्टासनो = यथा + इष्ट + आसनः (यथा + इष्ट → यथेष्ट; अ + आ → आ).

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

What practice does this verse prescribe regarding seating before a guru?

It instructs a student to keep their seat and bed lower than the guru’s and to sit only in a manner appropriate under the guru’s direct awareness, emphasizing humility and discipline.

What does “within the guru’s range of sight” imply in this context?

It implies maintaining respectful visibility and accountability—avoiding casual or self-willed postures and remaining attentive to the guru’s presence and guidance.

What is the ethical lesson conveyed by this shloka?

The ethical lesson is vinaya (humility) and maryādā (proper decorum): reverence is expressed through physical conduct, restraint, and deference in the teacher’s presence.