Practical Teachings for Life
“Based on the Shikshapatri”
EternalReligion.org
Introduction
The Shikshapatri was personally written by a pure devotee of Lord Krishna, Shri Sahajanand Swaminarayan, in 1826, in the small village of Vadtal (Gujarat). There are 212 verses in total and here we shall cover some of the verses. His followers claim him to be an incarnation of the Supreme.
By obeying the commands in the Shikshapatri, we will become righteous, disciplined, devoted, and of unbreakable character. These qualities will help you to serve God, your parents, your children, your relatives, your country, humanity, and other living beings.
Worship Lord Krishna
This Isha is Lord Shri Krishna, is Supreme Brahman, is Bhagwan and is the source of all incarnations. (108)
Lord Shri Krishna, His incarnations and His forms, only shall form the objects for meditation. One shall never meditate upon Jivas-men as well as deities, however great, as Bhaktas and knowers of Brahman they may be. (115)
All my followers shall daily go to the temple of Lord Shri Krishna, in the evening and shall sing loudly the name of Lord Shri Krishna. (63)
None shall ever hear or believe in the Shastras which clearly refute (the name, glory, form and existence of) Lord Shri Krishna and his incarnations. (29)
Then they shall offer food to him and then shall partake of it as His prasad, they shall thus always remain in service of Lord Krishna with love. (58)
No Killing or Hurting
My followers shall never kill any living being under any circumstances, knowingly, not even small insects like lice, bugs, etc. (11)
None shall ever kill a human being for obtaining women, wealth or even sovereignty. (13)
They shall never associate with nor even touch women who practice abortion, nor shall indulge in or hear amorous talks regarding males. (170)
No animal killing (no meat eating)
(My followers) shall never kill goats and/or other living beings in sacrifice performed for the propitiation of deities and Pitris (ancestors), for non-violence is declared (by the Shastras) as the highest Dharma of all the Dharmas. (12)
No Intoxications (Alcohol, drugs, tobacco)
None shall ever eat meat, even if it be an offering in a sacrifice or shall ever drink liquor or wine even if it be offered to a deity. (15)
No Adultery, no gambling
All my followers, males and females, shall never practice adultery and/or gambling and such other bad habits, nor shall eat or drink intoxicants like hemp, opium etc. (18)
No Suicide
None shall ever commit suicide even in a place of pilgrimage or through anger or on account of some untoward action by taking poison or by hanging or by falling into a well or from a hill-top or by any other means. (14)
No Stealing
None shall ever commit theft, even for the sake of performing an act of Dharma. Even articles such as firewood, flowers, etc. owned by others shall never be taken without their permission. (17)
Don’t make false accusations and don’t use bad Language
No one should level false accusations against anyone, even for the sake of achieving some self-interest or shall utter indecent words/abuses to others. (20)
Don’t speak bad about anyone
None shall ever speak or hear ill of deities, places of pilgrimage, Brahmins, chaste women, Sadhus and the Vedas. (21)
Respect all, disrespect none. Bow down to all Deities
When (my followers) on their way, come across temples of Shiv, and other deities, they shall bow down to them and have their darshan respectfully. (23)
Keep good association, and stay away from bad association
None shall speak even truth which is likely to cause fatal misery to oneself or to others and shall avoid company of ungrateful persons or shall ever except illegal gratification from anybody. (26)
No one shall ever associate with a thief, an addict, a hypocrite, a debauch, and a deceit. (27)
Use clean water
None shall ever drink water and/or milk (including all kinds of edible oils) unfiltered nor shall use water containing many insects for purposes of bath, etc, (30)
Respect all and insult none
None shall insult a guru, superiors, persons of higher social status, learned men and those who are armed. || 35 ||
All my followers who are prudent shall receive their Guru, a king, a very old man and a person who has renounced the world, a learned man and an ascetic, respectfully, by rising from their seat going forward, by offering them proper seat by sweet words. (69)
Think before responding in all situations
One shall never act under sudden impulse in haste; but an act pertaining to Dharma shall be done all at once. One shall impart knowledge, acquired by oneself, to others and shall always associate with saintly persons. (36)
Give to worthy gurus and Temples
None shall go with empty hands for darsan of Guru or of a deity or of a king or shall ever commit breach of trust or shall praise oneself. (37)
Assign work based on qualifications
One must always entrust, after proper consideration, a person with work just befitting his aptitude and ability but shall not act otherwise. (66)
Take good care of workers
One shall always provide one's servants with food, clothing etc., according to one's means and according to their worth (merit). (67)
Serve the parents, gurus, and those in need
All my followers during their lifetime shall serve their parents, Guru and ailing person, according to their ability. (139)
Keep Proper documentation
They shall never enter into any transaction regarding land and/or money even with their own sons and friends, without putting it in writing with proper attestation. (143)
Keep proper financial records and be accountable
Recollecting their income and expenses incurred during routine and/or special transactions, they shall daily write clearly in their own hands, an account thereof. (146)
Be charitable
They shall offer to Lord Shri Krishna one tenth part of food-grains and or money, derived as income from their vocation, but those who are financially weak shall offer one twentieth part instead. (147)
Service to Husband
Female followers who are married shall serve their husbands like God, even if they are blind, sick, poor or impotent and shall not speak harsh words to them. (159)
Touching the feet of someone is an expression of obedience and respect, and as such it is traditional to do so for the guru, the king, one's parents, elders in general, and one's husband.