15 Sanskrit shlokas on Guru with meaning in English

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥

Guru represents Brahma, Vishnu in creating and sustaining the necessary knowledge, and Shiva at the same time destroying the weeds of ignorance. My salutations to such a great Guru.

For Subhashitas on vidya or knowledge, please follow this link here.

For 37 Subhashitas with their meaning in English please follow this link.

अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् ।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Guru is the one who shows us the path to the absolute, that pervades all the living and non-living beings in this Universe (namely Brahman). My salutations to such a great Guru.

अज्ञान तिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जन शलाकया ।
चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥

My salutations to the guru who destroys the darkness of ignorance with his light of knowledge.

विद्वत्त्वं दक्षता शीलं सङ्कान्तिरनुशीलनम् ।
शिक्षकस्य गुणाः सप्त सचेतस्त्वं प्रसन्नता ॥

Scholar, Expertise, Humility, Generosity, Wiseness, Consciousness, and Cheerful are the seven qualities of a Guru.

दुग्धेन धेनुः कुसुमेन वल्ली शीलेन भार्या कमलेन तोयम् ।
गुरुं विना भाति न चैव शिष्यः शमेन विद्या नगरी जनेन ॥

How a cow without milk, branches without flower, a wife without character, water without lotus, knowledge without peace, and a town without people do not glorify, a Disciple without guru also does not.

शरीरं चैव वाचं च बुद्धिन्द्रिय मनांसि च ।
नियम्य प्राञ्जलिः तिष्ठेत् वीक्षमाणो गुरोर्मुखम् ॥

In the presence of the guru, stand with folded hands and have control over body, voice, wisdom, senses, and mind.

धर्मज्ञो धर्मकर्ता च सदा धर्मपरायणः ।
तत्त्वेभ्यः सर्वशास्त्रार्थादेशको गुरुरुच्यते ॥

The one who is the scholar of Dharma, who acts according to dharma and gives orders in accordance with shastras (Holy Book) is the Guru.

प्रेरकः सूचकश्वैव वाचको दर्शकस्तथा ।
शिक्षको बोधकश्चैव षडेते गुरवः स्मृताः ॥

The guru is the one who inspires, orders, informs, watches, corrects, and helps in self-realization.

यः समः सर्वभूतेषु विरागी गतमत्सरः ।
जितेन्द्रियः शुचिर्दक्षः सदाचार समन्वितः ॥

A guru is dispassionate, not jealous, conquered senses, pure at heart, efficient, and righteous towards all animals.

निवर्तयत्यन्यजनं प्रमादतः स्वयं च निष्पापपथे प्रवर्तते ।
गुणाति तत्त्वं हितमिच्छुरंगिनाम् शिवार्थिनां यः स गुरु र्निगद्यते ॥

Those who prevent others from engaging in negligent behavior; follow the path devoid of any sin; impart realization of essence to those who seek good and well-being, are called Gurus

गुरोर्यत्र परीवादो निंदा वापिप्रवर्तते ।
कर्णौ तत्र विधातव्यो गन्तव्यं वा ततोऽन्यतः ॥

It is a must to oppose gurus getting condemned. If not, then better close your ears. If even that is not possible, get out of that place.

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन शास्त्रकोटि शतेन च ।
दुर्लभा चित्त विश्रान्तिः विना गुरुकृपां परम् ॥

Neither by mere talk nor with thousands of scriptures, peace of mind is quite tricky to achieve, without the blessings and assistance of a guru.

गुकारस्त्वन्धकारस्तु रुकार स्तेज उच्यते ।
अन्धकार निरोधत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥

Gu as in darkness, Ru as in brightness, the one who distances the darkness of ignorance through the brightness of knowledge is Guru.

एकमप्यक्षरं यस्तु गुरुः शिष्ये निवेदयेत् ।
पृथिव्यां नास्ति तद् द्रव्यं यद्दत्वा ह्यनृणी भवेत् ॥

If a Guru teaches even a single letter of the alphabet to a disciple, there is no such thing on this Earth, that, on being given to the Guru can render the student free from the debt of learning from the guru.

नीचं शय्यासनं चास्य सर्वदा गुरुसंनिधौ ।
गुरोस्तु चक्षुर्विषये न यथेष्टासनो भवेत् ॥

A disciple should choose a smaller seat while sitting before the Guru and when you find the guru coming your way refrain from sitting arbitrarily.