गोविन्द भाष्य (श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण - अचिन्त्यभेदाभेद वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

sūtra, to stregnthen the students's understanding. Performing the duties of āśrama-dharma are also helpful in purifying the heart and understanding the transcendental reality. How the āśrama duties of the brāhmaṇa help in this regard is described in the following statement of Bṛhad- āraṇyaka Upaniṣad (4.4.22): tam etaṁ vedānuvacanena brāhmaṇā vividiṣanti yajñena dānena tapasānāśanena "By Vedic study, sacrifice, charity, austerity, and fasting, the brāhmaṇas strive to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead." The usefulness of the brahminical duties such as truthfulness, austerity, and mantra chanting is described in the following scriptural statements: satyena labhayas tapasā hy eṣa ātmā samyak jñānena brahmacaryeṇa nityam "By constant truthfulness, austerity, transcendental knowledge, and austerity, one becomes eligible to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead." —Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.5 japyenaiva ca saṁsiddhyad brāhmaṇā nātra saṁśayaḥ kuryād anyan na vā kuryān maitro brāhmaṇa ucyate "Whether he performs other rituals and duties or not, one who perfectly chants mantras glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be considered a perfect brāhmaṇa, eligible to understand the Supreme Lord." —Manu-saṁhitā 2.87 Association with those who understand the truth also brings one transcendental knowledge. By this association Nārada and many other spiritual aspirants attained interest to ask about spiritual life and were finally eligible to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face-to-face. Sanat-kumāra and many other great sages have also helped many devotees by giving their association in this way. The great value of contact with a self-realized soul is described in the following statement of Bhagavad-gītā (4.34): tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ