ya etad ānanda-samudra-sambhṛtaṁ
jñānāmṛtaṁ bhāgavatāya bhāṣitam |
kṛṣṇena yogeśvara-sevitāṅghriṇā
sac-chraddhayāsevya jagad vimucyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.29.48)
“A person who [even] slightly honors with sincere śraddhā the nectar of knowledge filled with an ocean of bliss [i.e., the path of Bhagavad-bhakti] spoken to the bhāgavata [i.e., the foremost of bhaktas, Uddhava] by Kṛṣṇa, whose feet are served by the masters of yoga, is completely liberated.”
śamārthaṁ sarva-śāstrāṇi vihitāni manīṣibhiḥ |
sa eva sarva-śāstra-jñaḥ yasya śāntaṁ manaḥ sadā ||
(Mahābhārata)
“All the śāstras have been compiled by the wise for the purpose of equanimity. One whose mind is always peaceful is truly learned in all the śāstras.”
sarveṣāṁ mārgāṇāṁ tāratamya-jñānena sva-mārgotkarṣa-jñānaṁ bhavati |
(Krama-sandarbha-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.14.31)
“Knowledge of the excellence of one’s own path arises through knowledge of the gradation amidst all paths.”
abhyāso na hi tyaktavyo abhyāso hi paraṁ balam |
anabhyāse viṣaṁ vidyā ajīrṇe bhojanaṁ viṣam ||
(Subhāṣita-mañjarī)
“Practice (abhyāsa) is never to be abandoned. Practice is indeed the greatest strength. Without practice, knowledge is poison, just as food is poison during indigestion.”
śanaiḥ panthāḥ śanaiḥ kanthā śanaiḥ parvata-laṅghanam |
śanaiḥ vidyā śanaiḥ vittaṁ pañcaitāni śanaiḥ śanaiḥ ||
(Unknown source)
“Gradually a path, gradually a quilt, gradually climbing a mountain, gradually knowledge, and gradually wealth—gradually, gradually these five [come about].”
ajñaḥ sukham ārādhyaḥ
sukhataram ārādhyate viśeṣajñaḥ |
jñāna-lava-durvidagdhaṁ
brahmāpi taṁ naraṁ na rañjayati
(Nīti-śatakam: 3)
“The ignorant are easily propitiable, The highly learned are propitiated even more easily, [But] A person misguided by a meager modicum of knowledge— Not even Brahmā can satisfy him.”
śreyasām iha sarveṣāṁ jñānaṁ niḥśreyasaṁ param |
sukhaṁ tarati duṣpāraṁ jñāna-naur vyasanārṇavam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 4.24.75)
“Of all beneficial means in this world, knowledge [i.e., knowledge of Bhagavān] is the supreme, ultimately beneficial means. One who boards the boat of knowledge easily crosses the difficult to traverse ocean of distress [i.e., saṁsāra].”
māteva rakṣati piteva hite niyuṅkte
kānteva cābhiramayaty apanīya duḥkham ।
kīrtiṁ ca dikṣu vitanoti tanoti lakṣmīṁ
kiṁ kiṁ na sādhayati kalpa-lateva vidyā ॥
(Samayoccita-padya-ratna-mālikā)
“Like a mother it protects you. Like a father, it guides you for your well-being. Like a love, it delights you and dispels your distress. It spreads your renown in all directions and increases your wealth. Indeed, what can it not accomplish? Knowledge is like a wish-fulfilling creeper.”
yasya kasya taror mūlaṁ yena kenāpi miśritam |
yasmai kasmai pradātavyaṁ yadvā tadvā bhaviṣyati ||
(Unknown source)
[An āyurveda guru told a new disciple:] “When a root from some tree or other mixed with something or other is prescribed for something or other, then something or other will happen.”
