Subhashita #0030

The guru or the spiritual master has a very serious responsibility on his shoulders. Unless he properly trains his disciples in the science of bhakti, the disciples cannot overcome their anarthas and cross over the ocean of birth and death. It is therefore recommended by śāstra that the guru should be strict with the disciple. When the guru is strict, the disciples immediately show many good qualities without much effort.

In the past, children in gurukul would be taught by teachers who were compassionate in their hearts but were very strict externally. The sage Patañjalī says in the introductory part of his mahā-bhāṣya — "yaḥ udātte kartavye anudāttam karoti khaṇḍikopādhyāyaḥ tasmai capeṭām dadāti anyat tvam karoṣi iti" — "If any student incorrectly utters a mantra in a low-pitch where a high-pitch is expected, the teacher immediately slaps him and says — utter it properly!"

This merciful chastisement by the guru immensely helps the disciple later in life. A subhāṣita-verse specifies the importance of such strictness:

gīrbhir gurūṇāṁ paruṣākṣarābhis

tiraskṛtā yānti narā mahattvam

alabdha-śāṇotkaṣaṇā nṛpāṇāṁ

na jātu maulau maṇayo vasanti

"[While giving instructions], the disciple who is chastised by the guru by using harsh words attains immense greatness later in life. Its true! A diamond which has not been severely tested, polished and subjected to stress does not find itself on top of the king's crown."

— (Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra, sāmānya-nītiḥ, page 173, verse 760)