In plain words
Acquaintance with books is not what matters; acquaintance with the heart is what is needed. Children are going to school. But what are they learning? What, after all, is a ‘baḍi’? You may well know it: they tie a baḍi on bullocks that go sneaking off the path. (That is, hanging a heavy stick from their necks so that they cannot run this way and that.) It is a kind of restraint. Why go to a baḍi that has no restraint? Children go to school and come back. But they are learning nothing. What you must learn first of all is the thought of God. You must know the meaning of the word ‘Hari’. You must keep the name of Hari in mind. Without learning that, however many studies you learn, there is no use in them. You need not learn some new studies; you must learn the old ones. In the old studies themselves there are many things you do not know. Mothers who had no schooling at all can teach many good things. Students today read big, fat books. Each book serves very well to put under your head like a pillow and go to sleep on! All these are studies for filling the belly. You must strive for true education. Along with your studies, you must shape your conduct properly too.
However many studies you learn, what is the fruit? Whose power is it to escape what is written on the brow? If bad thoughts get into one's head, it withers; the intellect turns to stone.
Without setting your intellects straight, however many studies you study, what use is it? Only when the intellect is right will conduct be right. Rely on your own mind; do not hire someone else's. From today at least, develop good thinking and good conduct. Without the wealth of character, however many riches you have, they are of no use. The building of character is the very goal of education. Aśvatthāmā was greatly learned indeed, but he had no character. That is why he killed the sleeping Upapāṇḍavas. Arjuna caught him, bound him and brought him back. Because Draupadī, with her forgiving heart, asked that his life not be taken, Arjuna cut off his hair, took the great jewel within his crest and let him go.