प्रेरकः सूचकश्चैव वाचको दर्शकस्तथा। शिक्षकः बोधकश्चैव षडेते गुरवः स्मृताः॥
prerakaḥ sūcakaścaiva vācako darśakastathā । śikṣakaḥ bodhakaścaiva ṣaḍete guravaḥ smṛtāḥ ॥
PM's MessageHeartiest greetings to all citizens on Guru Purnima. Along with imparting knowledge, gurus fill their disciples with positive energy and educate them through noble thoughts and values. Let us make their ideals a source of strength in our lives.
Meaning of Prerakaḥ Sūcakaścaiva Vācako Darśakastathā
One who provides the right direction, imparts knowledge and truth, shows the righteous path, offers education and awakens an understanding of truth in life, paving the way for self-development. These are regarded as the six forms of a Guru.
Word by word
- प्रेरकःprerakaḥ
the one who impels
प्र + √ईर्
- सूचकःsūcakaḥ
the one who indicates
√सूच्
- च एवcaiva
and indeed
- वाचकःvācakaḥ
the one who expounds
√वच्
- दर्शकःdarśakaḥ
the one who shows
√दृश्
- तथाtathā
likewise
- शिक्षकःśikṣakaḥ
the one who trains
√शिक्ष्
- बोधकःbodhakaḥ
the one who awakens
√बुध्
- षट् एतेṣaḍ ete
these six
षष्
- गुरवःguravaḥ
are gurus
गुरु
- स्मृताःsmṛtāḥ
are held to be
√स्मृ
Commentary
The verse defines a guru through six active roles rather than through rank or title. A preraka inspires movement, a sūcaka points something out, a vācaka articulates or explains, and a darśaka shows what must be seen or understood. The final pair, śikṣaka and bodhaka, distinguishes the giving of instruction from awakening comprehension in the learner. Together, these terms present teaching as a gradual process that begins with encouragement and direction, continues through words and demonstration, and matures into education and understanding. The plural guravaḥ also allows these functions to be embodied by more than one guide in a person's life. The accompanying Guru Purnima message extends this sixfold description by honouring teachers whose knowledge, positive influence, ideals, and values shape their students' lives.
Original Post
More subhashitams on Mentorship
View topic pageज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.