BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:34

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:34

 

tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jnanam

jnaninas tatt va-darsinah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

tat--that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi--try to

understand; pranipatena--by approaching a spiritual master;

pariprasnena--by submissive inquiries; sevaya--by the rendering of

service; upadeksyanti--they will initiate; te--you; jnanam--into

knowledge; jnaninah--the self-realized; tattva--of the truth;

darsinah--seers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire

from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized

souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

 

PURPORT

 

The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord

therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the

line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a

bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of

disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a

person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord

as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by

manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish

pretenders. The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad

bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the

Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead

one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge

can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide

spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master

should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the

spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige.

Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of

advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the

proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is

submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master

will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the

spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple,

he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual

understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd

inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from

the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from

him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual

master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the

student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the

reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.