March 25th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गुरोरप्यवलिप्‍तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः ।
उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम् ॥
- महाभारत

Transliteration:
gurorapyavalip‍tasya kāryākāryamajānataḥ ।
utpathaṃ pratipannasya kāryaṃ bhavati śāsanam ॥
- mahābhārata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Even though he is a teacher or elderly, if he is haughty, astray or doesn't distinguish between befitting and unfit deeds, one should not hesitate to chastise him.

Commentary:

As much as the culture professes respecting elders and serving them, it also gives the youngsters the authority to call them out on their blunders and correct them when they go astray. When a grown-up takes a wrong step, whether knowingly or unknowingly, youngsters are not just given the leniency to correct them, rather the verse says that it becomes their prime responsibility! Dharma should be upheld irrespective of age or position. The outcome of deeds will not change whether performed by a teacher, parent or a king. That means virtue and righteousness (dharma) have no distinctions of designations or the office one holds. Whether it is a king, soldier, father, son, mother, daughter, teacher, student, dharma has to be advocated by everyone.

Uphold dharma. Don't hesitate to stand up for the dharma, no matter what!

pada vigrahaH:
गुरोः अपि अवलिप्‍तस्य कार्य-अकार्यम् अजानतः ।
guroḥ api avalip‍tasya kārya-akāryam ajānataḥ ।

उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम् ॥
utpathaṃ pratipannasya kāryaṃ bhavati śāsanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
gurorapyavaliptasya kaaryaakaaryamajaanataH ।
utpathaM pratipannasya kaaryaM bhavati shaasanam ॥
- mahaabhaarata

guroH api avaliptasya kaarya-akaaryam ajaanataH ।

utpathaM pratipannasya kaaryaM bhavati shaasanam ॥