The distinction between knowledge and ignorance starts with the hymns of the RigVeda, where knowledge means being conscious of the Truth and what is right, and ignorance is being unconscious of the Truth and what is right, opposing it and creating false or negative effects.
This world is an illusion of colors and sounds, a false display created by the tricks of Maya, the mind, and the senses.
Whatever is offered, given, or performed as austerity, and whatever is done, without faith, is called "Asat," Partha; it counts for nothing, here or hereafter.
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् |
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ||१७-२८||
Demonic people do not understand what should be done and what should be avoided. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truth is found in them.
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः |
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ||१६-७||
I know that victory lies where righteousness is.
Death is preferable to a life of dishonest means.
A warrior's strength lies in physical power, but a Brahmin's strength lies in forgiveness.
They say the world is without truth, without foundation, without a God, brought about by mutual union, and caused by nothing but desire.
असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् |
अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम् ||१६-८||
These true desires are covered over by what is false. Though they are true, they have falsehood as their covering. For when any of one's people departs from here, one cannot get him back to see him again in this life.
त इमे सत्याः कामा अनृतापिधानास्तेषाꣳ सत्यानाꣳ सतामनृतमपिधानं यो यो ह्यस्येतः प्रैति न तमिह दर्शनाय लभते
'When they bring a man, my dear, with his hands bound, crying "He has stolen! He has committed theft! Heat the axe for him!" — if he is the one who did it, then he makes himself false. Being given to falsehood and covering himself with falsehood, he grasps the heated axe; he is burned, and then he is killed.'
पुरुषꣳ सोम्योत हस्तगृहीतमानयन्त्यपहार्षीत्स्तेयमकार्षीत्परशुमस्मै तपतेति स यदि तस्य कर्ता भवति तत एवानृतमात्मानं कुरुते सोऽनृताभिसंधोऽनृतेनात्मानमन्तर्धाय परशुं तप्तं प्रतिगृह्णाति स दह्यतेऽथ हन्यते
Then they meditated on speech as the Udgitha. The demons pierced it with evil. That is why one speaks with it both truth and falsehood, for it has been pierced with evil.
If merely pretending to be spiritual can bring about such spiritual awakening, one can only imagine the impact of genuine spiritual practice. In that state, one will undoubtedly realize what is real and what is not. Only God is real, while the world is an illusion.
The congregation is Paras which turns life into gold, provided only that no wall of ego, no wall of falsehood, creates obstruction.
The dust that lies on the road is disregarded and constantly trampled by everyone. However, when carried away by the wind, it first envelops the air and then settles on the eyes or crowns of kings.
The age of Kali is characterized by false statements and the abandonment of true knowledge.
जो कह झुऊ ¡¢ह मसखर्¶ जाना, कलिजुग सोइ गुनव¯त बखाना.
This body is made up of the five elements - earth, water, fire, ether, and air - and is extremely vile. The mortal frame lies buried in eternal sleep before your eyes, while the soul is everlasting. For whom, then, do you lament?
After visualizing the beautiful image of Rama as He appeared while chasing the false deer, Sita constantly repeated the Name of Hari.
You feel humiliated in spirit for nothing, dear brother. Know that the destiny of souls lies in the hands of God.
Whether He shuns me as one with a black heart or welcomes me as his servant, my only refuge is in Rama's shoes. He is a noble master, and the blame lies with me, his servant. The only ones who deserve fame are the Cataka bird and the fish, who keep their vows of love and fidelity fresh.
अ सोचु सनेहु, भि निण्द तेहि समया बिदेहु. "Wहेथेर् हे स्हुन्स् मे अस् ओने पोस्सेस्सिन्ग् अ ब्लच्क् हेअर्त् ओर् wएल्चोमेस् मे अस् हिस् ओwन् सेर्वन्त्, म्य् ओन्ल्य् रेफ़ुगे अरे रामऽस् स्होएस्; हे इस् रेअल्ल्य् अ नोब्ले मस्तेर् wहिले थे wहोले ब्लमे लिएस् wइथ् हिस् सेर्वन्त् म्य्सेल्फ़्. थे ओन्ल्य् बेइन्ग्स् देसेर्विन्ग् ओफ़् फ़मे इन् थे wओर्ल्द् अरे थे चतक बिर्द् अन्द् थे फ़िस्ह्, wहो अरे च्लेवेर् इन् केएपिन्ग् एवेर् फ़्रेस्ह् थेइर् वोw ओफ़् फ़िदेलित्य् अन्द् लोवे."
Listen, Bharata, fate is formidable, as exclaimed by the lord of sages. Loss and gain, life and death, glory and infamy - all these lie in the hands of Providence.