उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

A METHOD OF ENLIGHTENING THE DISCIPLE 3 विदिता', 'आचार्यः प्लावयिता', 'सम्यग्ज्ञानं प्लव इहोच्यते' इत्यादिश्रुतिभ्यः, 'उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं' इत्यादिस्मृतेश्च ॥ ३ ॥ 3. The Sruti¹ also says "A Brâhmana after ex- amining those worlds which are the result of Vedic actions should be indifferent to them seeing that nothing eternal can be achieved by means of those actions. Then, with fuel in his hands he should approach a teacher versed in the Vedas and esta- blished in Brahman, in order to know the Eternal. The learned teacher should correctly explain to that disciple who has self-control and a tranquil mind, and has approached him in the prescribed manner, the knowledge of Brahman revealing the imperishable and eternal Being." For only when knowledge is firmly grasped, it conduces to one's own good and is capable of transmission. This transmission of knowledge is helpful to people, like a boat to one who wants to cross a river. The scriptures too say "Although one may give to the teacher this world surrounded by oceans and full of riches, this knowledge is even greater than that." Otherwise² there would be no attainment of knowledge. For the Srutis say, "A man³ having a teacher can know Brahman," "Knowledge⁴ received from a teacher alone (becomes perfect)," "The teacher is the pilot," "Right Knowledge is called in this world a raft," etc. The Smriti⁵ also says, "knowledge will be imparted to you" etc. ¹ Mu. U., 1. 2. 12, 13. ² If it were not taught by a teacher. ³ Chh. U., 6. 14. 2. ⁴ Chh. U., 4. 9. 3. ⁵ Bh. Gîtâ, 4. 34.