Shloka : 36

कार्यं न सहसा किञ्चित्कार्यो धर्मस्तु सत्वरम् ।

पाठनीयाऽधीतविद्या कार्यं सङ्गोऽन्वहं सताम् ॥ 36 ॥

અને વિચાર્યા વિના તત્કાળ કાંઈ કાર્ય ન કરવું; અને ધર્મસંબંધી જે કાર્ય તે તો તત્કાળ કરવું; અને પોતે જે વિદ્યા ભણ્યા હોઈએ તે બીજાને ભણાવવી; અને નિત્ય પ્રત્યે સાધુનો સમાગમ કરવો. ॥ 36 ॥

And one should not perform any deed without thinking. One should perform one’s religious duties immediately. One should teach others the skills one has mastered and one should regularly be in company of saints. || 36 ||

Commentary

The devotees of Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan should not perform any deed without thinking, in a spur of a moment. If one has to perform any worldly duty, one should think twice about it with clear mind and take advice of the learned and God-realized persons. But, one should not perform it instantly. Because one, who acts without thinking, may end up into a great disaster. But the religious deeds should be performed instantly. i.e. the very moment one is inspired, one should perform it. The holy deeds are helpful in next world also. Therefore, one should perform religious deeds assuming that one may die this very moment. Besides, reli­gion is the only friend of this soul. Because only religion accompanies a soul, evenif, the body is destroyed and everything else is destroyed alongwith the body.

One should teach the skills to an eligible disciple who is eager to learn the skills which are acquired through selfless services and company of Guru and through study. Because gift of knowledge is the best gift. Now, following are eligible for the gift of knowledge: one who is aware of his act; one who is not offensive; an intelligent person; a pious person i.e. who follows the code of conduct physically as well as mentally; one who is without any misery or disease; one who does not find faults in others' vir­tues; one with humble nature; an able person to serve others; friendly person with fellow people and with everybody else; one who is capable to teach and guide.

Moreover, the devotees of Shriji Maharaj should always be in the company of saints who are firmly rooted into the devotion of God. 'To remain in the company' means to visit them, respect them and follow their teachings.