Guidance

With speech that seems mixed and ambiguous, you seem to confuse my understanding. Tell me with certainty just one thing by which I may attain what is truly good.

Hear again My supreme word, the most secret of all; because you are deeply cherished by Me, I shall speak for your good.

My own nature has been overcome by the taint of weakness; my mind is bewildered as to what is righteous. I ask you — tell me clearly what is truly good. I am your disciple; instruct me, for I have taken refuge in you.

O Krishna, you alone are fit to cut this doubt of mine completely away. Truly, no one other than you is capable of dispelling this uncertainty.

Those who are deluded by the qualities of nature cling to those qualities and their actions. The one of complete knowledge should not disturb these dull-witted ones who do not know the whole.

Let the wise one not unsettle the minds of the ignorant who are attached to action. Rather, acting with proper yoga, one should engage all actions harmoniously.

O Bharata, Hrishikesha, as if smiling, spoke these words to him who sat despondent between the two armies.

Sanjaya said: Thus addressed by Gudakesha, O Bharata, Hrishikesha steered that finest of chariots and halted it between the two armies.

Narada approached Sanatkumara, saying, "Teach me, venerable sir." Sanatkumara said to him, "Come to me with what you already know; then I will tell you what lies beyond that." So Narada said:

Then observe those among the learned who are reflective, disciplined, not appointed by compulsion, gentle, and devoted to righteousness — conduct yourself there as they would. And in cases where you face accusation — again, observe those learned ones who are reflective, disciplined, gentle, and devoted to righteousness — act toward such matters as they would. This is the command, this is the teaching, this is the secret doctrine of the Veda, this is the instruction. This is how it must be reverenced, verily this is how it must be reverenced.

Once more, O mighty-armed one, hear My supreme word, which I shall speak to you who are dear to Me, out of My wish for your good.

So they accepted their food, but did not ask the Lord's counsel.

Those who live and move within the realm of ignorance stumble and are battered, deluded, like the blind being led by someone who is also blind.

Those senses went to Prajapati, their father, and said, 'Revered Sir, who is the best among us?' He told them, 'He on whose departure the body appears most wretched is the best among you.'

The aspirant who is under the guidance of a Master or Guru is safe from being led astray.

O Agni, lead us by the auspicious path to prosperity, O God who knows all our ways. Ward off from us the sin that goes astray. We offer you our most abundant words of reverence.

O beloved! Every single day, with heartfelt devotion, one should bow reverently in the direction where the holy feet of the blessed Guru reside.

'and just as someone might remove his bandage and tell him, "Gandhara lies in that direction; go that way," and he, being wise and intelligent, asking his way from village to village, would reach Gandhara itself — even so here a person who has a teacher knows: "I shall remain here only so long as I am not released; then I shall arrive home (be united with Being)."'

'Just as, dear boy, a man might be led away from the Gandhara country with his eyes bandaged and abandoned in a deserted place, and just as he would cry out toward the east, the north, the south, or the west, "I was brought here blindfolded! I was left here blindfolded!"'

He reflected: 'These great householders, greatly learned in the Vedas, will question me, and I shall not be able to answer them everything. Come, let me direct them to another teacher.'