Message of Scriptures

Granthas, books, are actually granthis, knots. In other words, mere book-learning, without discrimination and non-attachment, serves to increase one’s arroganceand vanity, i.e., it multiplies the knots in one’s mind. Chaitanya Dev, in the course of his pilgrimage through the southern parts of India, came across adevotee who was in tears all the while that a pandit was reading from the Gita.

Now, this unlettered devotee could not follow a single word of the Gita. Upon being asked why he shed tears, he replied, ‘It is, indeed, true that I do not know a word of the Gita. But while it was being read, I could not help seeing with my inner eye the beautiful form of my Lord Sri Krishn, seated before Arjun in a chariot in the field of Kurukshetra, and giving out those sublime thoughts, known as the Gita.

This filled my eyes with tears of joy and love.’ This man who knew not letters had the highest learning, for he had pure love for God and could realise Him. All that can be learnt by going through the entire Gita can be as well accomplished by repeating ‘Gita’, ‘Gita’ — ‘Gi-tagi-ta-gita’, 10 times, it virtually comes to be ‘tyagi’, ‘tyagi’, which means one who has given up the world for the sake of God. In one word, the Gita says, ‘Give up’ — give up the world both outwardly and from the mind. Books — sacred scriptures — all point the way to God. Once you know the way, what is the use of books? Then the hour comes for the culture of the soul in solitary communion with God.