हिन्दी
Nārada went (for spiritual instruction) to Sanatkumāra and said - ‘Sir, please teach me.’ Sanatkumāra said to him - ‘First tell me what you know already. I’ll teach you from that point.’ Nārada said—
Sir, I have read the Ṛg Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sāma Veda, and the fourth—the Atharva Veda; then the fifth—history and the Purāṇas; also, grammar, funeral rites, mathematics, the science of omens, the science of underground resources, logic, moral science, astrology, Vedic knowledge, the science of the elements, archery, astronomy, the science relating to snakes, plus music, dance, and other fine arts. Sir, this is what I know.
‘True, I have learnt much, but I know only the word meaning. I do not know the Self. Sir, I have heard from great persons like you that only those who know the Self are able to overcome sorrow. I am suffering from sorrow. Please take me across the ocean of sorrow.’ Sanatkumāra then said to Nārada - ‘Everything you have learnt so far is just words’.
Name is the Ṛg Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sāma Veda, and the fourth—the Atharva Veda; then the fifth—history and the Purāṇas; also, grammar, funeral rites, mathematics, the science of omens, the science of underground resources, logic, moral science, astrology, Vedic knowledge, the science of the elements, archery, astronomy, the science relating to snakes, plus music, dance, and other fine arts. These are only names. Worship name.
‘Anyone who worships name as Brahman can do what he pleases within the limits of the name.’ Nārada asked - ‘Sir, is there anything higher than name?’ ‘Of course, there is something higher than name,’ replied Sanatkumāra. Nārada then said - ‘Sir, please explain that to me’.
