In plain words
All these taps are connected to the tank called the heart. Whichever tap we turn, Prema alone comes to us there. So first of all you must fill your heart with Prema. What is this Prema, Prema that you keep speaking of and thinking of? This Prema itself is the heart. Hṛt + dayā. Hṛdaya: that itself is compassion. This thing called compassion is itself Prema. That is why this is mankind; what has no kind in it is not humanness. Mankind: man must always be with kindness. That kindness itself is the mark of the heart. If we break that kindness, we become ones who have sinned. So we must do no wrong of any kind.
With this in view: ‘aṣṭādaśa purāṇeṣu vyāsasya vacanadvayam, paropakāraḥ puṇyāya, pāpāya parapīḍanam’. Who has time to read the eighteen Purāṇas? So he gave the essence of them all in a couple of sentences. ‘Paropakāraḥ puṇyāya’: doing good to others is merit, he said. But that is not its meaning. Para, upa, kara. It is made up of three words. Para = the Ātma principle, upa = nearness, kara = make the effort to do. Making the effort to go near the Ātma is itself paropakāra. If you give someone a little gift or alms, that is not paropakāra. Para, upa: we must go near. Making the effort to go near divinity is itself paropakāra. ‘Pāpāya parapīḍanam.’ Para, pīḍanam: what does para mean? Oneness. Turning oneness into separateness is itself pīḍana. We must not change the Ātma principle, which is one, into separateness. So this itself has been called sin. So for oneness to stay as oneness is itself merit; if it is not kept as oneness, that is sin. That is why it has been said, Help ever, hurt never. Whenever we are not able to help, it is better to keep our mouth shut and sit still. Not doing harm is itself a great help. So when you lead such a life, your family, your lineage, your wealth, this society and the world, all of it takes shape as something sacred. Whomever you hurt, it is the same as hurting God.