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75
Praśamarati
sense objects. These stories should always be listened to and told (so that others turn towards religion. However, 1) Stri-kathā (stories pertaining to women and their pleasures), 2) (Bhakta-Kathā (stories pertaining to food and drinks) 3) Cora-Kathā (stories of deception, stealing etc.), and 4) Janapada-kathā (stories of social and political life.) should be avoided from a long distance (as they keep men attached to this world.)
184. Instead of keeping the mind busy in goossip of talking of good and ill of others, it is better that during the available time it is kept occupied in pure Dhyāna (here the word does not mean the four types of pure meditation - the meaning is given in the next verse.)
185. One should constantly completely put in effort in studying the scriptures oneself, in teaching them to others, in deeply pondering over their meaning - e.g. is asking oneself “How much of it have I now learnt and understood properly, and now how much of it have I made integral to my personality ?” and in religious discourses. (All this is known as pure Dhyāna).
186,187,188. According to the great exponents of grammar, the word Šāstra (scripture) is made up of two roots; 1) The root which means to rule over/to command and give direction and 2) The root which means to protect. Thus that which controls and stabilizes the mind by ruling over and directing it when it has gone on the wrong track due to desires and aversions, in the correct Dharma and that which protects the Jīva from the misery and unhappiness of this world is called Šāstra. Thus that which is able to command (the mind) without the slightest blemish, and that which has the power to protect without the slightest defect, is known as Šāstra. Such a Šāstra is, the doctrine or teachings of the Omniscient only.
