“Sarva Dharmān Parityajya” is a phrase from one of the most famous verses of the Bhagavad Gita. Through this statement, Sri Krishna did not speak only to Arjuna, but conveyed a life principle meant for all humanity. “Sarva Dharmān” refers to all the rules, beliefs, opinions, and self-created notions of righteousness that we follow. “Parityajya” means to abandon them. The essence of this teaching is to set aside fear, doubt, ego, pride, the feeling of “I know everything,” and excessive attachment to results, and to take complete refuge in God with total faith.
In simple terms, the message Sri Krishna gives is this: “Do not be afraid. Do your duty with sincerity. Leave the result to Me. Live honestly and courageously.” This teaching is not merely about religious rules; it is a deeply personal guidance on how the human mind should function in life.
This message is extremely relevant to students. When examinations, studies, future uncertainties, and life problems arise, students should not be afraid. One must sincerely put in effort to the best of one’s ability and leave the outcome to God. When the thought “Effort is mine, the result belongs to God” becomes firm in a student’s mind, fear reduces and inner strength increases.
For students, the phrase “Sarva Dharmān Parityajya” carries a deeper meaning. It asks us to abandon our inner weaknesses. If there is fear, we cannot ask questions. If there is pride, we cannot learn anything new. If there is laziness, we cannot put in effort. If there is negligence, studies will not bear fruit. Therefore, only when fear, pride, laziness, and negligence are abandoned can true education enter within us.
Just as water can be poured only into an empty vessel, education and knowledge can enter only an empty mind. The fear of “I cannot do this” must be abandoned, and the arrogance of “I already know everything” must also be abandoned. Only when the mind is empty does true learning take place. This principle applies not only to education but to life as a whole.
Sri Krishna’s own life is the clearest example of this truth. Though He knew everything, He was free from arrogance. He was always ready to listen and learn. He did not merely preach; He lived what He taught. That is why He possessed complete wisdom. That is why He is called the Jagadguru (Master of world), the teacher of the world. Only by letting go does education come—like Krishna. Only by letting go does God become attainable.
To gain worldly education, a student’s life must be disciplined. Worldly education includes books, lessons, examinations, skills, profession, and future goals. The obstacles to this education are laziness, procrastination, negligence, wastage of time, and fear of failure. Excessive involvement in games, music, movies, parties, entertainment, unnecessary things involvement, and excess social relations also distances one from studies. These are not wrong in themselves, but when excessive, they hinder education.
When these habits are abandoned, knowledge increases and success comes closer. A worldly student must cultivate discipline, time management, continuous effort, and a genuine desire to learn. Every student must remember this truth: only when the body works does education bear fruit.
Time discipline is extremely important because Sri Krishna clearly states in the Gita, “Kālo’smi” - “I am Time.” This means respecting time is respecting Krishna, and wasting time is neglecting Krishna. Sri Krishna never wasted a single moment of His life. That is why He stands as a symbol of action and complete wisdom.
Attaining Krishna inwardly does not mean searching outside; it means purifying the mind. A spiritual seeker must abandon ego, attachment to results, doubt, fear, jealousy, anger, restlessness, and external show. Where ego exists, God does not reside. Attachment to results binds the mind. Without faith, surrender is impossible. Divine awareness cannot remain in a polluted mind.
Only when these weaknesses are abandoned and life is lived with humility, devotion, trust, and surrender does Jagadguru Krishna establish Himself in the heart. Krishna’s teachings can settle only in an empty mind. When the mind bows, Krishna is attained.
The path to worldly education and spiritual realization is the same. Worldly progress requires effort, discipline, and respect for time. Inner realization requires humility, devotion, and surrender. When the body works, education comes. When the mind bows, Krishna is attained.
The final message is very clear. When laziness, negligence, and procrastination are abandoned and effort is made with respect for time, worldly education is achieved. When ego, attachment to results, and fear are abandoned and surrender is practiced with humility, Krishna’s grace is attained inwardly. Through effort, education is gained; through surrender, Krishna is attained, thus both can be achieved together.
