IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING SCRIPTURES

-"Light up your hearts with the shining lamp of true knowledge"

Bhagavad Gita:16.23

yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya

vartate kāma-kārataḥ

na sa siddhim avāpnoti

na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim

Translation: He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, happiness, nor the supreme destination.

Practical science.

Scriptures: Treasure Vault to know the usage of Human life.

Srimad Bhagavatam (1.1.1)

tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ

Translation: It is He (Krsna) only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. So Brahmaji is just reciting what Krsna has instructed Him.

Why are the Scriptures given to us?

We all know that any appliance or gadget that we purchase, comes with a manual. For the first usage of a new gadget, we take a look at it and flick through the few pages of the user manual and store it. Never do we open it again until we desperately need to know how to fix a broken /malfunctioning appliance or gadget. Similarly, our birth is very new to us in this world, every day is new with so many unpredictable and unbearable situations. For, the simple use of a non-living gadget with more efficiency one needs the manufactured product manuals. Hence, for living beings, the Scriptures are the user manuals of human life.

A perfect blueprint for a happy life.

Scriptures are called Apauruṣeya means it is not written by any mundane creature. Brahma, Has been instructed the Vedic lessons by Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa. He did not manufacture it. So Vedas means coming from directly Nārāyaṇa, not that Brahmā has created. Brahmā has Vedas in his hand, but he has received them from Nārāyaṇa So Brahmā instructed his sons. Then they got the knowledge. The sons instructed the grandsons. In this way, Vedic knowledge is passed from generation to generation called paramparā, which means disciplic succession. We don't manufacture. We receive the knowledge, the perfect knowledge by disciplic succession, from bona fide scriptures to derive Unlimited Real Happiness. They, teach us not just the way of life but elevate our consciousness and help us in leading a pious existence.

Historical guidance :

Scripture essentially is divinity’s guiding force to humanity, they reveal the truth and offer wisdom on life. Their existence and relevance extend throughout history.

Eg: In one of the historical battles of the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna took guidance from Krishna.

Bhagavad gita :3.31

ye me matam idaṁ nityam

anutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ

śraddhāvanto ’nasūyanto

mucyante te ’pi karmabhiḥ

Translation: Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bondage of fruitive actions.

BG (3.31) declares that its insights are eternal (avyayam) – they can offer liberation and life eternal to one and all at all times.

One should study scripture as an existential seeker, not as a historical investigator as they are the injunctions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should have firm faith in this injunction, without envying the Lord.

Bhagavad gita :17.31

anudvega-karaṁvākyaṁ

satyaṁpriya-hitaṁ ca yat

svādhyāyābhyasanaṁcaiva

vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa ucyate

Translation: Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

The process of speaking in spiritual circles is to say the message as upheld by the scriptures. One should quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear. Through such discussions, one may derive the highest benefit and elevate human society. There is a limitless stock of Vedic literature, and one should study this, called penance of speech.

The Bhagavad-gita (17.15) recommends the regular recitation of scriptures as a means to discipline our power of speech. Such regular recitation becomes easy when scripture is readily accessible to us. And the most accessible place for keeping scripture is our own memory.

If we take shelter of scriptural verses regularly, they will gradually move from our brains into our hearts, thereby becoming our ever-ready counselors. Whenever our heart feels burdened by life’s inevitable perplexities, we will be able to turn to them for relief and get not just relief but also rejuvenation and wisdom. Then we will realize that the same scripture memorization we feared would burden our heads has actually unburdened our hearts.

Purpose of Scriptures: Assimilation and Application.

Scriptures guide us and help us to think about our supreme destination. To think about the supreme destination, a healthy body and a satisfied mind are prerequisites. To have a satisfied mind, prescribed duties must be immaculately performed and prescribed duties depend upon the spiritual and social divisions we belong to. Their application in our lives is a highly practical science.