[Advaita-l] Jagadguru Speaks: Sastras Indispensable for Man’s Progress

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
Sastras and Srutis, Puranas, Itihasas and the like are extremely useful to 
mankind. They instruct us on the means to lead our lives, and all 
actions that they prescribe or prohibit, are meant solely for our welfare. 
The Mahatmas who authored these works had no selfish motive. There 
was nothing that they had to strive for or acquire. 
 
It is with the noblest of intents that man should not suffer in this Kali 
Yuga, due to weakened faculties and lack of mind control, that the 
Mahatmas have bequeathed these works for our benediction. For 
example, they have cautioned us that the plight of a person who has no 
control over his mind will be like that of a charioteer who, unable to 
control his wild horse, falls to the ground and sustains severe injuries. 
 
एतान्यनिगृहीतानि व्यापादयितुमप्यलम्‌ ।
अविधेया इवादान्ता हयाः पथि कुसारथिम्‌ ।।
 
Thus, the Sastras that reveal several such nuances through the Guru, 
serve as the basis for man's welfare. Therefore, man must strive to 
adhere to these Sastraic injunctions to the extent possible. This will 
ensure not just his welfare, but that of others, too. Hence, man must not 
fritter away his time and instead use it to learn the Sastras. 
 
A wasted second that is lost forever cannot be retrieved even by a 
multitude of gold coins. Sankara Bhagavatpada asks: What could be a 
greater loss than a life spent in vain without any pursuit of knowledge? 
 
आयुः क्षणलवमात्रं न लभ्यते हेमकोटिभिः क्वापि ।
तच्चेद्गच्छति सर्वं मृषा ततः काऽधिका हानिः ||
 
Our blessings for this purport is to be understood well. May efforts be 
taken towards the study of the Sastras at least to some extent that will 
bring about progress in one’s life.