On May 26, 2015, a casual street conversation turned into a gentle yet profound philosophical exchange—one that reminded us how easily we trust our own limited experiences while overlooking the boundless wisdom waiting in the scriptures. This encounter with a thoughtful soul beautifully illustrates why the Bhagavad Gita is sometimes also called as “Shastra Chakshur”—the eyes of scripture.
I offered him a copy of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
“What’s the need to read if we know what is good and bad for us!!…” he said confidently.
“So may I please request you to just let me know the list of deeds and actions which are good and bad : )”
“What… I don’t have that, sorry… Nobody could have that list of good and bad things…”
“Then how do you decide what is good and what is bad for you, if there is no reference?”
“Through experience…”
“That experience is coming from?”
“From what? Obviously from day-to-day learnings…”
“That day is coming from?”
“Day is coming from?? I don’t get?”
“From where are you getting the days in which you are learning and gaining experience?”
“These days are mine… From where can I get them!! It’s a wrong question please…”
“Here is the catch,” I said softly with a smile. “You think these days are yours… But actually, they are not : ) They are being given to you by the mercy of God—after so many pious deeds that resulted in this rare human form being awarded to you. So even the days are given by God only. What to speak of the learnings and experiences?”
“My humble request to you is to start knowing good and bad through the eyes of Shastra (Shastra Chakshur), not through the limited senses and experiences we gather from these limited days : )“
“So good and bad list is there in this book?”
“Not only that—the love of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, is also there, beyond which nothing remains left to be attained : ). Please go through this Gita once…”
“Can I have a look at it….”
“All yours : )”
As he took the book, the shift was palpable—from reliance on personal trial-and-error to readiness to see through divine eyes.
I am thankful to him, who will now begin knowing good and bad through the eyes of the Bhagavad Gita!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who presented this scripture so clearly that even our everyday assumptions can be lovingly questioned and elevated.
This conversation is a quiet wake-up call for all of us: We proudly say “I know from experience,” yet that experience is built on days that are gifted, senses that are limited, and a lifespan that is brief.
The Bhagavad Gita offers something far superior—Shastra Chakshu—the clear, compassionate, infallible vision of scripture. It doesn’t just list good and bad; it reveals why certain actions bind us to suffering and others liberate us into love for Lord Krishna. And at its heart lies Prema—the pure love for God that fulfills every longing.
Next time you face a decision and think, “I know what’s good for me,” pause and ask: Through whose eyes am I seeing? My own flickering lamp… or the eternal light of shastra?
Have you ever had a moment when scripture changed how you viewed “good” and “bad” in your life? Share below—your reflection might help someone else look through clearer eyes today.
More sacred street-side dialogues coming soon, all contributing to a book of these gentle, life-altering awakenings. Keep opening the Gita—let it become your eyes.