Chapter 13: Kshetra-kshetrajna-vibhaga-yoga – Distinction between Object Field and its Knower: Verse 26
अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्त: श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते।
तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणा: ॥
anye tvevam-ajānanta:
śrutvānyebhya upāsate
te’pi cātitaranty-eva
mṛtyuṃ śruti-parāyaṇā: – 13.26
There are yet others who, ignorant of these paths, take to sādhanā listening to others’ expositions. Such seekers also, given to assiduous listening and sincere pursuit, transcend mortality.
Chapter 13: Kshetra-kshetrajna-vibhaga-yoga – Distinction between Object Field and its Knower - Verse 26
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Our tradition and culture are quite inclusive. Not all have the intellectual grace and acumen to read and pursue spiritual wisdom all by themselves. They look for someone to expose the subject for them. Even they, says Krishna, overcome death if they pursue with full faith and one-pointed dedication to what they listen. Good exposition with the message it conveys destroys ignorance, and thereby bestows immortality.
In fact, our country has the age-old culture of exposing ethics and spirituality through widespread public narration. In every generation, there will be some traditional exponents. They invariably grow under expert narrators, who move from place to place. Some noble souls host them and arrange for a devout audience to listen to their narration.
Our society has the culture to take to such events with fondness and dedication. An effective narrator can lead listeners’ minds and hearts. It is an art, calling for adequate learning, societal fondness and dedication.
