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Bhagavaan Sri Krishna’s dialogue with His loving devotee, Uddhava. (Srimad Bhaagavatam - 11th Skanda)

Uddhava: “What is ‘daana’?” (charity)

Sri Krishna: “Giving up the intention of harassing others is true charity (material charity is only the ordinary kind).”

Uddhava: “What is ‘tapas’ (spiritual practice)?”

Sri Krishna: “Giving up desires is ‘tapas’”.

Uddhava: “What is ‘shouryam’ (valour)?”

Sri Krishna: “To win one’s ‘vaasanas’ (imprints) is valour. (Not defeating others alone is valour).”

Uddhava: “What is Satya? (Truth)?

Sri Krishna: “Satya is to look upon everything as the same (‘samaana buddhi’) - i.e. to experience everything to be Vaasudeva swaroopa -Form of the Lord!”

Uddava: “What is ‘rutam’ (truth)?”

Sri Krishna: “Affectionate words are called ‘rutam’.”

Uddhava: “What is ‘pavitram’/‘shuddham’ (pure/clean)?”

Sri Krishna: “To be detached to Karmas. (to be physically clean does not pertain to cleanliness. Performance of karmas without any desire for their fruits is only ‘pavitram’)”.

Uddhava: “What is ‘tyaaga’ (sacrifice)?”

Sri Krishna: “Giving up attachment to everything is true sacrifice”.

Uddhava: “What is ‘selvam’ (wealth)?”

Sri Krishna: “Dharma is the loved wealth”.

Uddhava: “What is ‘Yaaga’?

Sri Krishna: “I AM ‘Yaaga’!” (“Yajno vai Vishnuh” says the Vedas. Therefore, Bhagavaan Himself is Yajnaswaroopi (the very form of Yajna). The Yaaga performed without this thought cannot be a real Yajna).

Uddhava: “What is ‘dakshina’ (cash or kind offering)?”

Sri Krishna: “Upadesa of Jnaana is ‘dakshina’.” (cash or gold are not true offerings).

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