Advice from a Swan

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्

 देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयम् उदीरयेत्

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Advice from a Swan

'The swan continued:



"These then are the four pillars of wisdom: Self-restraint, truth-seeking, sincerity, and compassion. One who always practices truth, self-restraint, sincerity, and compassion attains to heaven. Like a calf sucking the four teats of a cow's udders, one should devote oneself to the practice of these four virtues."


"I know nothing more valuable or sacred than truth. I have moved between gods and humans throughout the three worlds and I find that truth is the only means for reaching the higher reality, just as a ship is the only means for crossing the ocean."



"It is important to keep company with other truth-seekers. One takes on the character of those with whom he dwells. We become similar to those whom we revere. Just as a piece of cloth is imbued with color when it is steeped in dye, we take on the natures of those with whom we associate. He becomes saintly who keeps the company of wise men; he becomes crooked who walks with thieves. If one walks in the path of the righteous, even the gods take pleasure in him.



And yet the gods cast off the company of the wicked.  Those who are always devoted to the gratification of their pleasure organs and stomach are cast off by the gods. Those who are addicted to thieving are cast off, as are those who are expert in insulting others. The mean-spirited men of violent speech and deed are cast off, even when they expiate their sins through rituals. The gods are never pleased with those who are mean in spirit."



"Avoid the mean in spirit. Avoid those who culture ignorance and harsh speech. The gods are never pleased with those who have no self-restraint, who observe no restrictions in their eating and drinking. They cast off those of mean and wicked deeds."



"On the other hand, the godly seek the company of those who observe truth, who are grateful, and who live in righteousness."



"Silence is better than speech. To speak truth is better than silence. To speak of the truth that touches on higher reality is better than speaking mundane truths. One should avoid disagreeable speech. Speech that is both truth, agreeable and touches on the highest reality is the best speech."

"The Sadhyas asked, "What is illusion? Why are we in darkness? Why is enlightenment so difficult to attain?"



"The Swan replied: "This world is covered by the darkness of ignorance. We fall into darkness through our own malice. Men fail to attain enlightenment because of attachment."



"The Sadhyas asked, "Who are the advanced souls and how do they become happy? How does the true brahmana attain divinity and purity? And what is their humanity?"



"And the Swan answered: "The advanced souls realize happiness through wisdom. Wisdom is true strength. The brahmanas attain divinity through the truth-seeking process and by the study of the Vedas which are revealed truth. They reach purity through self-restraint. In death is their humanity."

"With this, the swan turned and moved quietly through the gentle waters of the holy river, and faded from the sight of those divine souls known as the Sadhyas."



As Yudhisthira looked on, Bhishma said, "Thus I have explained to you the counsel given by the golden swan to the divine Sadhyas on the banks of the holy river long ago as I heard it in the ashram of Vasistha Muni, when as a boy I sought refuge at his lotus feet."