FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.45.32

यथोपसाद्य तौ दान्तौ गुरौ वृत्तिमनिन्दिताम् । ग्राहयन्तावुपेतौ स्म भक्त्या देवमिवाद‍ृतौ ॥ ३२ ॥
yathopasādya tau dāntau
[yathopasaadya tau daantau]
gurau vṛttim aninditām
[gurau vrittim aninditaam]
grāhayantāv upetau sma
[graahayantaav upetau sma]
bhaktyā devam ivādṛtau
[bhaktyaa devam ivaadritau]
Word-for-word
yathā — fittingly upasādya — obtaining tau — Them dāntau — who were self-controlled gurau — to one’s spiritual master vṛttim — service aninditām — irreproachable grāhayantau — making others take to upetau — approaching for service sma — indeed bhaktyā — with devotion devam — the Supreme Lord iva — as if ādṛtau — respected (by the guru) .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yathopasādya tau dāntau
yathā
fittingly
gurau vṛttim aninditām
grāhayantāv upetau sma
upasādya
obtaining
tau
Them
dāntau
who were self-controlled
gurau
to one’s spiritual master
vṛttim
service
aninditām
irreproachable
grāhayantau
making others take to
upetau
approaching for service
sma
indeed
bhaktyā devam ivādṛtau
bhaktyā
with devotion
devam
the Supreme Lord
iva
as if
ādṛtau
respected (by the guru) .
Important Words
  • dāntau — self-controlled
    Dānta = restrained, from √dam. A foundational guṇa for a disciple. Bhagavān models the dānta-state that He elsewhere lists among divine qualities (BG 16.1-3).
  • vṛttim aninditām — irreproachable service
    Vṛtti = conduct, service; anindita = unblemished. The Lords serve so well that no one can point to a flaw. The standard of guru-sevā is set at faultless.
  • bhaktyā — with devotion
    Instrumental of bhakti. The verse uses the very word at the guru-service moment — formal authorization that guru-bhakti is bhakti in the technical sense. Gauḍīyas underline this hard.
  • devam iva — as if the Supreme Lord
    Devam = the Lord; iva = like. The simile is doctrinally loaded: as if. Guru is not Bhagavān but is honored as Bhagavān — the precise Gauḍīya formulation (sākṣād-dharitvena... kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya).
  • ādṛtau — respected (by the guru)
    Past participle of ā + √dṛ — esteemed. The reciprocity: guru also honors the disciples. The bhakti-relation runs both ways even when authority does not.
Sāndīpani thought very highly of these two self-controlled disciples, whom he had obtained so fortuitously. By serving him as devotedly as one would serve the Supreme Lord Himself, They showed others an irreproachable example of how to worship the spiritual master.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sāndīpani thought very highly of these two self-controlled disciples, whom he had obtained so fortuitously. By serving him as devotedly as one would serve the Supreme Lord Himself, They showed others an irreproachable example of how to worship the spiritual master.
Commentary

In order to teach others (grahayantau) perfect dealings with the guru, they began to serve the guru with great devotion according to the scriptural rules. They were also respected by the guru.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

They were controlled, and acted according to scriptures (yathā), which explain that one should approach with fire wood in one’s hands. Hari-vaṁśa says: nivedya gotraṁ svādhyāyām ācāreṇābhyalaṁkṛtau / śuśrūśū nirahaṁkārāv ubhau rāmajanārdanau / Announcing their name and gotra, the two boys showed the best conduct in studies and without pride served the guru. Vṛttim means conduct. They respected him as the Supreme Lord or they were respected like the Lord by the guru. The word sma indicates that their conduct was well known.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

They were controlled, and acted according to scriptures (yathā), which explain that one should approach with kuśa in one’s hands. Hari-vaṁśa says: nivedya gotraṁ svādhyāyām ācāreṇābhyalaṁkṛtau śuśrūśū nirahaṁkārāv ubhau rāmajanārdanau Announcing their name and gotra, the two boys showed the best conduct in studies and without pride served the guru. Vṛttim means conduct or living. They respected him as the Supreme Lord or they were respected like the Lord by the guru. The word sma indicates that their conduct was well known.

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Brahmacharya (Self-discipline / Restraint)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
BG 17.14 BG 17.20 BG 4.34 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 12.3 BG 8.2 BG 17.4 BG 7.8 BG 13.1 BG 6.1 BG 6.5 BG 18.55
Personal Guidance
Sāndīpani treasures these self-controlled disciples; They serve him as one would serve the Supreme Lord, showing an irreproachable example of guru-worship. The Lord models how to treat a guru — even when the disciple is greater than the teacher.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you treat your teachers in ways that would not stand as 'irreproachable example'?
  • What practical service to a guru have you postponed?
Analogy

Sāndīpani receives the two Lords like a man given a divine deposit he must keep from knowing is divine; He and Balarāma serve him with bhakti, as one would serve Bhagavān Himself, modeling for every disciple that the guru is to be honored not less than the Lord because the Lord is found through him.

Stories
Guru-bhakti as Gauḍīya core

Caitanya-caritāmṛta sets guru-bhakti at the entry of bhakti's house: 'guru-pādāśraya, dīkṣā, viśrambhena guru-sevā' — taking shelter at the guru's feet, initiation, and intimate service of the guru — head Rūpa Gosvāmī's list of the sixty-four limbs of bhakti.

Viśvanātha Cakravartī's Gurv-aṣṭakam ('saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka...') is sung daily in Gauḍīya maṭhas. The doctrinal warrant is precisely this verse: Bhagavān Himself worshiped His guru with bhakti as if the guru were the Supreme — devam iva ādṛtau. Gurudeva is, functionally, the deva for the disciple.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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