"Arjuna! You may ask Me about the means whereby this can be acquired. Those anxious to get it have to go to realised souls and win their grace and studying well their moods and manners, they must await the chance to ask them for the help. When doubts arise, they should approach them calmly and courageously. Studying bundles of books and delivering hours-long discourses and wearing the ochre do not make the genuine Jnani. Jnana can be won only from and through elders who have experienced the absolute. You have to serve them and win their love. How can doubts be ended by the study of books? They only tend to confuse the mind."

"Books can at best inform; they cannot demonstrate by direct proof. Only the realised can convince by direct demonstration. So they have to be sought after and served reverentially. Then only can this precious Jnana be won. No amount of sea water can slake one's thirst; no amount of Sastric study can solve doubt."

"Besides, the aspirant for Jnana must have not only Bhakthi and Sraddha but he should also be simple and pure. He should not grow impatient and irritate the teacher. Haste ruins chances of success. Whatever the Guru tells should be practised and experienced. You should not try out every single item of advice that your hear or learn, thus changing the Sadhana as fancy takes hold, even from the desire to become Jnani quick. Doing thus, you will only end as a complete A-jnani. Why, it is sometimes preferable to remain an A-jnani; for such people tend to end up in madness. Therefore, one has to be very careful."

"You must endeavour to please the Guru and win his favour by obeying his orders and serving him lovingly. You should have no other thought than his welfare and happiness. Give up all else and win his grace; then, Jnana is yours. Instead, if you are disobedient and critical through egoism and want of faith, you cannot be blessed by the vision of the truth; you will be plunged in gloom."

"As the cow takes her calf near when it sees it, so the Guru will draw the Sishya to his presence and give him the milk of grace. The Sishya ought to be a sterling character; then, just as a clean piece of iron will be attracted by the magnet, he will receive the immediate attention of the teacher."

"The qualification of the Guru can be inquired into by the Sishya; in fact he ought to. For, he needs a teacher. Arjuna! I shall describe the characteristics which a teacher should possess. He must have not merely book-knowledge, but the wisdom derived through direct experience. He must be established in reality, that is, in Brahmanishta. Mere Sastrajnana is incompetent to grant Mukthi; it can at best help in gaining Bhukthi (a living). Why, there are some who by sheer Anubhavajnana have won Mukthi, without a grain of Sastrajnana. But such persons cannot save disciples who are pestered by doubt; they cannot understand their difficulties and sympathise with them.