In plain words
When he asked, ‘Where have you come from?’, he said, ‘I have come from India.’ ‘I am translating the Veda. You are Caturveda Śāstri: what is the meaning of this?’ he asked. ‘I know nothing of the Vedas,’ he said. He was struck still. ‘Coming from Bhārata, bearing the name Caturveda Śāstri, is he deriding the Vedas themselves? Chī! Today is bad day,’ he thought. Do you see! The faith that is in foreigners, the sacred feelings that are in foreigners: the people of Bhārata, born in Bhārata, bearing the name of people of Bhārata, drinking the water of Bhārata, eating the food of Bhārata, breathing the air of Bhārata, they alone are left without this faith. That day Max Muller made a resolve within himself: ‘I need not go to Bhārata after all. If I go to Bhārata, who knows what will become of my head. Now I stay sacred and pure. I stay spotless. In the company there, who knows what would become of me.’ Man goes to ruin through company alone. If you join good people, good qualities come. If you join bad people, bad qualities come.
We must keep good, sacred things near us. You think that when Swami gives rings, gives watches, gives protective amulets, He gives them for your worldly satisfaction. That is a great mistake. Do not think in that way. For your future life these are the best, the highest steps. When you wear sacred things, only sacred feelings come. This is what Sītā said to Rāma during their life in the forest. ‘Rāma! You have put on the garb of an ascetic. You are wandering in the forest. You have given up a kingdom full of every comfort. You have come to lead a sacred life. But why have you taken up the bow? Weapons must not go with you. If weapons go with you, the feeling of violence begins. What have you come to the forest to harm? The beasts that roam the forest roam as if in their own home. Is it not violence to kill beasts roaming freely in their own home? What harm are they doing? Why have you brought the bow?’ In this way, whatever things are near us, such feelings arise in us. Children know this. If there is a pen, they just write away like that, writing; if there is a small knife, you pare your nails.