In plain words
No one understands what education is. What kind of education should we learn? We must learn the education that helps us attain Mukti. Only then will you become truly educated. The studies you learn today do not help you attain Mokṣa. Children are going to school. But what are they learning? ‘Baa… baa… black sheep’: is this what we should be learning? No, no. We must fill our hearts with divinity. Today's system of education is getting twisted into many crooks. In those days Aṣṭāvakra had crooks in his body only. Today man has crooks in his very mind. First of all, you must straighten out this crooked and twisted mind. Only then will you become truly educated.
The ideal of Prahlāda
Even if all the scholars in the world today came together, they would not equal Aṣṭāvakra of old. Studies are growing without limit. But no one is able to recognise what the essence of study is. First of all, man must recognise his own true nature. Otherwise, however much he studies, what use is it? Once, Hiraṇyakaśipu called for his son Prahlāda: ‘My son! How far have your studies come? What kind of learning have your teachers, Caṇḍa and Amarka, taught you?’ he asked. Then Prahlāda said:
My teachers taught me; I studied the śāstras, those of Dharma and Artha foremost; I have studied many things; of all studies I have studied the whole secret, father!
Hiraṇyakaśipu was overjoyed: ‘My son, what is that secret? Tell me in one word,’ he said. ‘Om namo Nārāyaṇāya,’ said Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu flew into a rage he could not contain. He commanded Prahlāda not to keep the name of Nārāyaṇa in mind. When the boy would not heed his word, he subjected him to many tortures.