Maharshis Are Human Too: Why Their Wisdom Matters

The 8th mantra of the dvitiya valli of the first chapter of Kathopanishad -

न नरेणावरेण प्रोक्त एष सुविज्ञेयो बहुधा चिन्त्यमानः ।

अनन्यप्रोक्ते गतिरत्र नास्ति अणीयान् ह्यतर्क्यमणुप्रमाणात् ॥ 

Maharshis are also humans. Why should we take their wisdom for granted?

'O Nachiketa! This knowledge about the afterlife cannot be explained by just any ordinary person. It is not easy to understand directly either. Only through deep thinking from many different angles does it become clear.

O Nachiketa! Without the guidance of a true teacher, one cannot reach this knowledge of the self. This truth is very subtle. It is very difficult to understand because it is very fine, even smaller than the smallest thing you can measure.'

This means that the topic of the soul and the afterlife is not something everyone can easily explain or understand. Only those with deep knowledge can share it, and even then, it takes careful thought to grasp it. It is very subtle, smaller than anything we can measure or think about easily.

The knowledge about the afterlife is not something discovered by an ordinary person just walking on the street. Instead, it is the result of the deep dedication of the revered Maharshis. These great souls gave up all worldly pleasures for thousands of years. They lived in deep forests, cut off from society, not for their own benefit but for the well-being of the entire world. Their work is the result of immense effort, reaching the depths of true science and understanding.

If we try to make fun of them or compare them to people like us by using false arguments, we are truly the greatest fools. By doing so, we are hurting ourselves. We must think: what could those great souls have gained from lying to us? There was nothing for them to gain except criticism if they were wrong. Yet, they sacrificed their lives to find the highest truth.

Not trusting the works of such great people, making fun of them, or comparing our own limited understanding to their deep wisdom is not just foolish; it is also an act of arrogance. It is a crime—a crime that cannot be forgiven.

Their knowledge was pure and selfless, earned by sacrificing everything for the truth. Doubting and mocking them shows the smallness of our minds and is an insult to the greatest knowledge.

Unless you dedicate yourself completely like the Maharshis did—giving your whole life for many births to seek this truth—you will not reach the highest goal. As the saying goes, 'With effort over many lifetimes, one reaches the ultimate state.'

If you think, 'I will only accept it if I understand it myself,' you will waste your life. The best, simplest path is to trust the scriptures and keep moving ahead with curiosity. Be a seeker, not an arrogant person. Don’t think you can understand the nature of the self just by reading some books. The only way is to surrender to a true teacher, a Guru.

The Maharshis spoke very subtly, and without a Guru, you cannot understand their deep words. You also cannot understand the subtle truth of the self without help. If you think, 'I know how to interpret it myself,' you are mistaken. What you are trying to understand is very deep, and the scriptures that explain it are also subtle. Both the goal and the way to reach it are very fine and difficult to grasp.

It’s like this: even simple things in the world can be hard to understand for an ordinary person. When people say, 'Those Maharshis were just like us; why should we take their words as divine truth? Why can't we decide for ourselves what is true or false using logic?' we need to remind them about everyday examples.

For instance, ancient people told us about the qualities of spices like ginger, pepper, clove, cardamom, and grains like barley and wheat. Have you ever doubted those qualities or questioned their names? You trust a shopkeeper, who might not be as knowledgeable as you, when they sell you these items without questioning them. You don’t use your logic there—you just accept it.

Most of our actions are based on traditions passed down through generations. If you reject this kind of behavior, you won’t be able to even take a step in this world. If you cannot ignore tradition for ordinary things, then how can you laugh at following the tradition for something as subtle as the knowledge of the self?

So, the message is clear: for deep truths like the knowledge of the self, you should not mock the teachings passed down by the wise. These teachings are subtle, and they need a proper approach, guidance, and respect, just like the traditions you already follow for simpler things in life.

The Vedic declaration 'अनन्यप्रोक्ते गतिरत्र नास्ति' means that without a true teacher, there is no way to understand the ultimate truth. The scripture is giving an example using our everyday experiences to make us understand a deeper point.

It says, 'O people, remember that just like in the world, the only way to understand the higher spiritual truth is through the guidance of someone who truly knows.' For everyday things, you can use logic to understand. But for the ultimate truth, logic cannot help. This is because the truth we are seeking is beyond our understanding and is very subtle. Logic alone cannot reach it.

Logic requires the mind to work. But according to the scriptures, 'न तत्र मनो गच्छति,' which means 'the mind cannot go there.' Our minds are outward-focused, always looking at the material world. They do not naturally turn towards higher truths. So, using logic to understand something that is beyond the mind is wrong.

Today, everyone is shouting about logic. They believe that logic can answer everything. But because of this, they are missing out on real knowledge. Their minds are trapped in a cycle of arguments and are separated from the wisdom that can understand the self.

In short, the mantra says that while logic is good for understanding worldly things, it has limits. The ultimate truth is beyond logic and can only be understood through a true teacher who has experienced it directly.

Knowledge Bank

Two ancient kings of Assam who took part in the Mahabharata war

Bhagadatta of Pragjyotishapura and Jayatsena. Both were on the Kaurava side.

What kinds of problems do people face?

1. Adhyatmika - self-created problems such as ego issues, emotional issues, fears 2. Adhibhautika - problems due to other beings and objects such as diseases, injuries, being subjected to violence 3. Adhidaivika - problems of supernatural nature such as curses.