What is that, Arjuna's position? You'll find in this chapter which we are now just beginning. He said, sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manye yad vadasi keśava (BG 10.14): "My dear Kṛṣṇa, whatever You are speaking, I accept. I accept it." So that should be the process of understanding Kṛṣṇa, er, Bhagavad-gītā. Not that "I don't like this. So I'll reject this portion. I like this portion, therefore I accept it." This sort of studying Bhagavad-gītā is useless, nonsense. Sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manye: "Whatever You have said, I accept it." That is stated.
Similarly, a teacher of Bhagavad-gītā should be a representative of Kṛṣṇa. Representative of Kṛṣṇa means a confidential devotee, unalloyed devotee of Kṛṣṇa. The same thing. He also accepted Kṛṣṇa as his . . . the student also should be like that. Then the study of Bhagavad-gītā is perfect. Otherwise, it is useless waste of time. There is a nice verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It is said:
- satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido
- bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
- taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani
- śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati
- (SB 3.25.25)
If one, anyone wants to understand the spiritual science, or the science of Kṛṣṇa, then he should associate himself with the satām, those who are pure devotees. Those who are pure devotees. Satāṁ prasaṅgāt. When discussions take place between pure devotees, then the potency of spiritual knowledge, as they are depicted in the scriptures and sacred books, they become revealed. Simply armchair, I mean to say, mental speculator discussing on Bhagavad-gītā, that is useless, futile. Here it is stated that satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ. If it is discussed in the association of pure devotees, then the potency of that spiritual language will be revealed. Will be revealed. In the Vedic literature also, in Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, it is stated:
- yasya deve parā bhaktir
- yathā deve tathā gurau
- tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
- prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
- (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23)
It is said there that one who has got firm faith in God and similar faith in God's representative, yasya deve parā bhaktiḥ . . . deve means God. Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau. Gurau means spiritual master. Spiritual master means a perfect devotee of God.
He's spiritual master. Tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ: so all this, I mean to say, import of the Vedic language will be revealed to him. Will be revealed to him. We cannot understand Vedas simply by academic qualification. We have to . . . we must have the qualification of becoming a devotee of the Supreme Lord and His representative, the spiritual master or the saintly persons. These are recommended in all Vedic scripture.