Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 81
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
गुरुके साथ कभी हठ नहीं ठानना चाहिये। युधिष्ठिर! यदि गुरु अप्रसन्न हों तो उन्हें हर तरहसे मान देकर मनाकर प्रसन्न करनेकी चेष्टा करनी चाहिये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | guruke sātha kabhī haṭha nahīṃ ṭhānanā cāhiye | yudhiṣṭhira! yadi guru aprasanna hoṃ to unheṃ hara tarahase māna dekara manākara prasanna karanekī ceṣṭā karanī cāhiye || samyaṅ-mithyā-pravṛtte 'pi vartitavyaṃ gurāv iha | guru-nindā dahaty āyur manuṣyāṇāṃ na saṃśayaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：切不可固执地与师长相抗。噢，坚战（Yudhishthira）！若师长不悦，当以一切合乎礼法之道敬奉、安抚，使其欢喜。纵使师长之行似乎或正或误，在此世间亦当对师长守其分寸；因为诋毁师长会焚损人的寿命——此事毫无疑问。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain reverent, restrained conduct toward one’s guru and avoid stubborn opposition; even when the guru appears flawed, do not indulge in contempt or revilement, since disrespect toward the teacher is portrayed as spiritually and existentially destructive (it ‘burns’ one’s lifespan).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he emphasizes proper behavior toward teachers: if a guru is displeased, the disciple should seek reconciliation through honor and respectful appeasement, warning against guru-nindā.