Which Guruji Can You Trust

In the previous shloka we saw the term tatwajijnasa.
Eagerness to know the tatwa.
Eagerness to gain real knowledge, not information.
Not superficial information.
Now, the eleventh shloka of the second chapter of the first skandha of Srimad Bhagavata answers three questions.
वदन्ति तत्तत्त्वतिदस्तत्त्व यज्ञानमद्वयम्।
ब्रह्मेति परमात्मेति भगवानिति शब्द्यते॥
The questions are-
What is the meaning of tatwa?
Whom do you call a tatwavetta or knower of tattwa?
What is the relation between the terms Brahman, Paramatma,and Bhagavan.

What is tatwa?
Tatwa means real knowledge.
Pure knowledge.
Uncorrupt, unadulterated knowledge.
Everyone says my knowledge is real knowledge.
What I believe in, what I preach is the supreme truth.
I am not even talking about other religions.
Even within Hinduism, there are so many conflicting arguments, schools of thought.
Everyone says, what I say is the supreme truth?

But then what is the pure truth, supreme truth, the tatwa?
Veda.
Veda is the pure knowledge..
Veda is tatwa
Inquisitiveness about what is there in the Veda is tatwajijnasa.

But then Bhagavata itself says, Veda confuses.
मुह्यन्ति यत्सूरयः
When it comes to the Veda, even scholars get confused.
They see conflicts within Veda.
They feel that they have to take a stand and say that this part of the Veda is superior and this part is inferior.
This part of the Veda is for the lower human beings, the lesser intellectuals and this part is for the super intellectuals.
These intellectuals feel ashamed about some part of Veda itself.
मुह्यन्ति यत्सूरयः

Why scholars, even Rishis have got confused.
Someone is a real Rishi only after he has ironed out all such conflicts, confusions.
Even being a Rishi is a progressive path.
If a Rishi has reached perfection, then why should he still do more tapas?
Put in more effort?

You will see that tapas is what Rishis do most of the time.
They are still working, still progressing.

A real Rishi, a complete Rishi is the tatwavetta, knower of tatwa, knower of Veda.
He has gone beyond conflicts.
He has got over all duality, got rid of all duality.
He has actualized non duality, advaita.

In that state, he would realize that-
What Vedas call Brahman, what Smritis call Paramatma, and what Puranas call Bhagavan- they are one and the same.
They are just different names of the same truth.

This is what Bhagavata reveals in this Shloka.
What is there in Bhagavata is tatva.
Not one more method.
Not another method.
Other methods may succeed, may fail.
They are claims.
Bhagavata is Veda, the tatwa.
Bhagavata can never fail.

This advice from Bhagavata is highly relevant today.
Bhagavata would consider someone to be a tatwavetta when he knows the Vedas from beginning to end, first sees conflicts and contradictions and then settles all of them.
It could have taken hundreds of years or thousands of years.

Today we have gurujis who claim that they have meditated for one year, three years or twelve years in the Himalayas or on top of a hill and have attained realization.

Bhagavata is telling us to trust the tatwa, the tatwa of the Veda which is coming to us through the Rishis, not the so-called realization of a twelve year long meditator which could be even a hallucination.

Knowledge Bank

What was the name of Karna's foster father?

Adhiratha.

Understanding Vedic Rituals: Why It's Important

Knowing why and how we perform Vedic rituals is crucial. When you understand the deeper meanings, the rituals become more powerful. Just knowing these meanings can bring the benefits, almost as if you performed the ritual. Performing rituals without understanding is like following a recipe without knowing how it affects the dish. Ignorant performance does not bring the desired result. That's why ancient texts stress the importance of learning the meanings behind rituals. So, take the time to understand the rituals you perform. It ensures you get the true benefits.