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.