74 Raja-vidya: The King of Knowledge
serves as spiritual master from without. This is
enjoined by Sti Krsna Himself in the following
verse:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jianam
jiianinas tattva-darsinah
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a
spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively
and render service unto him. The self-realized soul
can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen
the truth.” (Bg. 4.34)

It is necessary to select a person to whom we can
surrender ourselves. Of course no one likes to surren-
der to anyone. We are puffed up with whatever
knowledge we have, and our attitude is, “Oh, who
can give me knowledge?” Some people say that for
spiritual realization there is no need for a spiritual
master, but so far as Vedic literature is concerned,
and as far as Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and
the Upanisads are concerned, there is need of a
spiritual master. Even in the material world if one
wants to learn to be a musician, he has to search out
a musician to teach him, or if one wants to be an
engineer, he has to go to a technological college and
learn from those who know the technology. Nor can
anyone become a doctor by simply purchasing a
book from the market and reading it at home. One
has to be admitted to a medical college and undergo
training under licensed doctors. It is not possible to
learn any major subject simply by purchasing books
and reading them at home. Someone is needed to
