In plain words
First of all, the feeling of God must arise in our heart. Vyāsa wrote 18 Purāṇas. Each book is very big. Each one is like a Pillow. Who has the patience to read so many books? Even if there is patience, where is the time? Poor things, these days people have no time even to eat. In such conditions, how is it possible to read such big books? That is precisely why he made it easy and taught the essence of the 18 Purāṇas in two words, as one sūtra: ‘Help ever hurt never’. If you are not able to help, shut your mouth and sit quiet; do not hurt. That itself is a great kindness. As far as we are able, we must go on helping our fellow men. But words must not be harsh. Even when they are true, they must be soft and sweet. ‘Anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priya hitaṃca yat.’ Smooth and sweet they must be. Only then is a close bond of kinship formed between heart and heart. Sweetness must come into our words. We must fill the heart with Prema. There must be amṛta in our eyes. Our gaze must be pure. Our words must be sweet. The heart must be full of sweetness. Then the world itself will fit into the palm of our hand. When we put such lasting, true ideas to use in daily life, how much renown our life will win! This is what must be achieved first!
Satya and fame: these two alone endure
Life in this world is unstable; unstable are youth and wealth; unstable are wife, sons and the rest; the pair, Dharma and fame, is stable.
Our life in this world is unstable. Youth: for how long? Like a passing cloud, it changes in a moment. Youth is what changes most easily of all! Youth comes in the middle and goes in the middle. Satya and fame: these two alone stay with us for ever.