In plain words
But I do not see a single scholar here. All I see here are leather-workers. Only leather-workers know the business of skin,’ he said. Leather-workers are the people who stitch sandals. Hearing Aṣṭāvakra's answer, the scholars grew angry. “We are all great scholars. How dare you describe us as people who stitch sandals?” they cried, rising up against him. Emperor Janaka, who was watching all this, was not disturbed in the least. He sat with a steady mind, in a pure and selfless spirit. Aṣṭāvakra: “Great King! It has been said, ‘Paṇḍitāḥ samadarśinaḥ’. I do not see here even one scholar who has an equal vision,” he said. Janaka was very pleased: “Great soul! What you have said is the very truth. There is not one here who has an equal mind and an equal understanding. Only one who has equal understanding, truthful thought and pure feeling is a true scholar. Your coming to this assembly today is truly our good fortune,” he said.
‘Do not swagger, thinking you have learnt’
Today's studies fill the head with book learning, but they do not fill the heart with Prema. What we gain through acquaintance with books is only ‘superficial knowledge’. What use is it to hold such knowledge? You must gain ‘practical knowledge’. Only then will you be blessed and win the good name of being educated. Children today bring home all the marks they want in their examinations; they win first ranks. But are they winning first ranks in character? When you put this question, no answer comes. In the sacred land of Bhārata, where emperors like Janaka, great scholars like Aṣṭāvakra and ṛṣis were born, educated people of good character have become scarce today. Truly, when you look at their faces, the very radiance that should be in the educated is not to be seen. ‘Do not swagger, thinking you have learnt.’ What are these studies? Are these studies at all? No, no. To learn studies like these and pride yourselves on being greatly educated is a disgrace to you yourselves! You should pursue education for the betterment of society, not for acquaintance with books. But today they are putting education out in the bazaar.