Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.7.36
अनुव्रतानां शिष्याणां पुत्राणां च द्विजोत्तम ।
अनापृष्टमपि ब्रूयुर्गुरवो दीनवत्सला: ॥ ३६ ॥
anuvratānāṁ śiṣyāṇāṁ
[anuvrataanaam shishyaanaam]
putrāṇāṁ ca dvijottama
[putraanaam cha dvijottama]
anāpṛṣṭam api brūyur
[anaaprishtam api brooyur]
guravo dīna-vatsalāḥ
[guravo deena-vatsalaah]
Word-for-word
anuvratānām
—
the followers
śiṣyāṇām
—
of the disciples
putrāṇām
—
of the sons
ca
—
also
dvija-uttama
—
O best amongst the brāhmaṇas
anāpṛṣṭam
—
that which is not asked for
api
—
in spite of
brūyuḥ
—
please describe
guravaḥ
—
the spiritual masters
dīna-vatsalāḥ
—
who are kind to the needy.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
anuvratānāṁ śiṣyāṇāṁ
anuvratānām
the followers
śiṣyāṇām
of the disciples
putrāṇāṁ ca dvijottama
putrāṇām
of the sons
ca
also
dvija-uttama
O best amongst the brāhmaṇas
anāpṛṣṭam api brūyur
anāpṛṣṭam
that which is not asked for
api
in spite of
brūyuḥ
please describe
guravo dīna-vatsalāḥ
guravaḥ
the spiritual masters
dīna-vatsalāḥ
who are kind to the needy.
O best among the brāhmaṇas, those who are spiritual masters are very kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples and sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all that is knowledge.
Purport
There are many subjects to be known from the bona fide spiritual master. The followers, disciples and sons are all on one level for the bona fide spiritual master, and he is always kind to them and always speaks to them on transcendental subjects, even though he is not asked by them. That is the nature of the bona fide spiritual master. Vidura appealed to Maitreya Muni to speak on subjects about which he might not have asked.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O best of the brāhmaṇas! Though not asked, the gurus who are concerned from the suffering teach what is necessary to their obedient students and sons.
I do not know the most valuable thing to ask for. You should speak about it by your mercy! The genitive case (anuvratānāṁ śisyānām) is used to represent the dative case.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse models the central spiritual relationship: an inquirer approaching a realized teacher. Spiritual life rarely advances without this living human pivot. The verse anchors this in spiritual master.
Reflection Questions
- Where have you tried to learn devotion without a living human guide?
- What would it cost you to approach a teacher in the posture this verse models?
My note
Source: vedabase.io