Let me relate the story of Ashwatthama, who secured the Chudamani (diadem) by the grace of his preceptor for his devoted service to the Guru. The Chudamani, which Ashwatthama wore on his head, saved him from being beheaded by Arjuna, who had taken a vow to cut off Ashwatthama’s head for his crime of slaughtering the Upapandavas (infant children of the Pandava brothers). Though Arjuna was keen on carrying out his vow and took Ashwatthama before Draupadi, she, out of the largeness of her heart and from the inspiration of Krishna, found a formula to punish Ashwatthama without cutting off his head. She said that if a Brahmin was kept captive in a house and sent out as free man, it was equivalent to beheading him. She also told Arjuna that it was not Dharma to kill a Brahmin who carried on his head the precious jewel given to him by his Guru.

Students have to bear in mind these four principles: (1) Give up association with the evil minded. (2) Welcome the company of the good. (3) Do meritorious acts ceaselessly. (4) Remember always what is transient and what is eternal.

You must remind yourselves that you are human beings and not animals. You must give no room to bad thoughts. Develop the inner vision to realise the Divine within you. This is the significance of devotees closing their eyes when they are in the inner sanctum of a temple. They pray to the Divine to open their inner vision. (SSS Vol.26, pp. 90-91)