Faith is independent and a mine of every blessing; but men cannot attain it without the fellowship of saints. Saints for their part are inaccessible without a stock of meritorious deeds; it is their fellowship in any case that brings to an end the cycle of births and deaths.

There is only deed of merit in the world and no other – to adore the feet of the Brahmans in thought and word and deed. Gods and sages are propitious to him who with unfeigned devotion serves the twice-born (Brahmans).

With folded hands I now lay before you one more secret doctrine; without adoring Shankara no man can attain to faith in me.

Tell me, what are the pains involved in treading the path of faith? It requires neither mind-control, nor sacrifice, nor japa (muttering of prayers), nor penance, nor fasting; only a guileless disposition, a mind free from perversity and perfect contentment with whatever may be got.

If he who is called a devotee of mine puts confidence in man, tell me, what faith does he have in me? But why should I dwell on the subject at greater length? These are the principles of conduct, brothers, by which I am won:

to avoid enmity, to pick no quarrel, to hope for nothing and fear nothing. To such a man all the quarters are ever full of joy. Undertaking nothing (with an interested motive), homeless, without pride and without sin, free from wrath, clever and wise,

ever loving the fellowship of the good and accounting the enjoyments even of heaven as well as final release as no more than a blade of grass, persistent in faith and innocent of folly, giving up all contentious arguments,