Hanuman had succeeded in co-ordinating the thought, the word and the act. Therefore he had the unique distinction of being great in physical strength, mental stability and virtuous character. He shines as an invaluable gem among the personalities of the Ramayana. He was also a great scholar, who had mastered, of all things, the six schools or grammar! He knew the four Vedas and the six Shastras. The Gita says that a scholar is one who sees the same Divine force motivating everyone - Panditaha Samadarshinaha. Hanuman was the very picture of humility, born out of genuine sincerity and wisdom. He realised that the Rama principle, Atmarama, was illumining every being and he adored it above all else. (SSS Vol.10, p. 90)

In today’s world it has become a fashion to negate what others say. Debating to realise truth is good, but Panchashikha asked him the second question, are you a debating simply to negate everything what others say is foolishness. This is not good. Here is an example.

A great savant named Panchashikha came to the court of king Janaka. The king asked him to enter into a debate with a scholar of his court on the subject of the Vedas and Shastra’s, the scholar in the court of Kanaka challenged that he would negate whatever Panchashikha said. Panchashikha laughed and took up the challenge. He thought, ‘It is not scholarship but utter foolishness to negate everything. Only one who has studied the Vedas and Shastras is a scholar and such a person is equal-minded. But since this mad person is telling that he would negate whatever is said he is not fit to be in the court of king Janaka’. Thinking so, he asked him his first question: Sir! You are born of your mother, aren’t you?’ How could scholar negate that? He kept his mouth shut. Then human being?’ How could he say ‘N’ to this? When the arguments were proceeding like this, Janaka thought, ‘What a great scholar Panchshikha is! Only a person without any prejudices can argue like that. Such questions are the only way to set the foolish right’. A person does not become a scholar just by reading the Shastras and reciting Slokas. He becomes a scholar only when he develops equal-mindedness. Tamil poet Nammalvar said the same thing. ‘The mind is the witness of one’s own mind. Virtues are witness of one’s body. God is the witness of everything. And for a fool his folly is the witness’.

(SS Feb ‘01 p.44)

You may study the Bhagavad Gita and learn all the Shlokas (verses) by heart. But that does not make you a scholar. It is enough if you are able to put at least one Shloka into practice. With the help letters a.b.c.d…. of the alphabet any number of books can be written, like Ramayana, the Mahabharata or the Bhagavata, Likewise, the atma is the basis for everything. Once you understand the principle of Atma you will be able to understand everything else. It is only to impart such knowledge we have established educational institutions. In our schools and colleges, character, virtues and conduct are given utmost priority. One should have the yearning to tread the right path in life and attain God. One should accept everything as the Will of God. When you develop purity of heart, you will be successful in all your endeavours. (SS Feb ’06, p. 37)

The scholarship which revels in the number of texts mastered is of no use; one may know the Shastras and the Upanishads upside down; he may have all the seven hundred slokhas of the Gita in his head, but, if achara and vichara are non-existent, it is a burden which is best avoided. Achara means, application in practice. Vichara means continuous self-examination. (SSS Vol.4)

It is enough if Prema is cultivated. The Prema that knows no distinction between oneself and another, because all are but limbs of One corpus of God Almighty. Through Love alone can the Embodiment of Love be gained. Here, no scholarship is needed; in fact, scholarship will be an impediment, for it caters to egoism and it breeds doubts and the desire for disputation and laurel of victory over others preening themselves as learned. (Sanathana Sararhi June 2021 p18/19)