1. Listen to the description of experience. Those who see with actual experience are wise, while others, without any actual experience, are unfortunate and foolish.
2. There are many types of gems and coins. If one accepts them without first examining them properly, then there will be a loss. If one cannot get the experience of what is being taught, then he should not sit and listen to what is being explained.
3. Things such as horses and weapons must first be seen and used, and found to be good by properly examining them. Only then, after becoming knowledgeable should one accept them.
4. Test the seeds to make sure that they sprout, and then buy them. Similarly, one should listen to explanations only if actual experience can be gained from what is being said.
5. Only if it is first proven in the experience of other people that some medicine results in a healthy condition of the body, should one consume that medicine without hesitation.
6. If a medicine is taken without that is not a proven remedy, then one's health will become disturbed. Similarly, to do some action based solely upon guesswork and conjecture is foolish.
7. If one does not have any experience with gold asks to have some ornaments made without properly examining the quality, later on he will come to know that he was cheated very easily.
8. Without investigating and checking to see whether or not some work that is to be undertaken can be accomplished, the work may not get completed, and may even put one's life in danger.
9. Therefore a sensible person should not undertake any activity using only guesswork and imagination. This will surely only bring about negative, rather than positive results.
10. One would not purchase a buffalo seen sitting mostly submerged in water. This would not be a good use of one's intellect. Without conducting a thorough examination one will surely suffer a loss.
11. How many people have heard of buying a house based only on the assurance of another? One must investigate properly because cheaters will certainly take advantage of you if given the chance.
12. To buy food and clothing without proper examination can be life-threatening. To have trust in someone who is not trustworthy is foolish.
13. If you keep the company of thieves, you are sure to meet with disaster. Find out who is a thief or a double-crosser and avoid such people.
14. There are some people who are making brass look like gold, others who are making counterfeit money and fake coins, and many other types of deceivers. These people should be found out and avoided.
15. Some people who are bankrupt put on a big show to make themselves appear to be wealthy. If one puts their faith in such a false show, there is sure to be humiliation to follow.
16. In the same way, without the actual experience of Knowledge (Jnana) there is no contentment. Many have met with loss by going only on guesswork and conjecture.
17. By following advice to repeat certain mantras or concentrate on geometrical diagrams (yantras) many ignorant beings have become entangled in Illusion. This is similar to treating a sick person by covering him with cloth and killing him with it.
18. If a doctor who is lacking in knowledge treats a child and the child dies, what is there that anyone else can do?
19. If one who is suffering from pain feels too shy to say anything when the doctor asks him to tell what the problem is, then that person is effectively killing himself.
20. If one who is ignorant considers himself to be superior to one who has Self-Knowledge, he remains in ignorance because of pride. It can easily be seen who has suffered a loss in that case.
21. It is better when one experiences for oneself how accumulated sins get annihilated and how one escapes the sufferings of birth.
22. It is better when one recognizes one's own status as the one Supreme God and realizes one's own Self-identity.
23. It is better to recognize who has made the universe, how and what it is constructed of, and who is the main doer.
24. If one only goes on guesswork and imagination, then whatever spiritual practices have been done have only been done in vain, and the person gets drowned in doubt without gaining any actual experience.
25. This is the key to spiritual life. Understand that one who says that spiritual life is false, is considered the worst among men, and the one who considers spiritual life to be inferior to worldly life is even lower in human evolution.
26. Here the limit of what can be said with speech has been reached. The ignorant person cannot know Paramatman. Know that no false statement has been made here to you.
27. The greatness of my effort here is to impart only true Knowledge. If I say something that is not true, surely some blame will be attributed to God.
28. Therefore, I speak only the truth. Recognize the true doer, and find out the origin of Illusion at the root.
29. Some further explanation will be given again to validate what has already been said. The listeners are requested to keep their inner-mind alert while remaining attentive.
30. When subtle explanations are given, whatever has been said previously must be repeated so that the listeners will understand correctly.
31. When having gained understanding from direct experience, the traditional presentation of the teaching seems to have become meaningless. Therefore great care must be taken with regard to what is said.
32. If one's speech is only along the lines of traditional ideas of teaching, then the satisfaction of the experience is not gained, and if we protect only the satisfaction of actual experience, then the traditional ideas become meaningless.
33. In this way there is a dilemma on both sides. Therefore, I must say again what has been previously explained. Taking care to respect both opinions, I shall show how this riddle is resolved.
34. Keeping intact both the traditional teachings on one side, and the proof of actual experience on the other side, I shall give further explanation. The listeners who are wise should listen closely and reflect on the explanation that follows next.