On June 15, 2015, while the hum of arriving trains filled the air, a traveller waiting on the platform posed one of the most fundamental questions spiritual seekers ask: “How do we really know God—and why do we need scriptures to tell us?”
I offered him a copy of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
“How can you say that God has spoken Bhagavad Gita?” he asked directly.
“Through Scriptures : )”
“But why are you taking help from scriptures to know who is God and what He is speaking!!…”
I pointed gently toward the tracks. “Like you are taking the help of this train to reach your destination : )”
“What??”
“Can you yourself fly and reach your destination?”
“No… Of course not.”
“Exactly,” I continued softly. “Because you have limited senses. Even for your very survival, you depend on so many things provided by nature. We are actually dependent—limited and conditioned living beings. We cannot know God by our own mental speculation; we tend to make mistakes, we forget, we cheat, we are illusioned. Scriptures give us the perfect eyes to see who is God and the perfect ears to hear what God is actually speaking.”
“But why scriptures only??”
“Because they are coming from authority!!,” I explained. “Just like you listened to your school teachers! Your teachers also take knowledge from books. Why didn’t you ask your teacher to leave the books and then teach? They can’t—because real knowledge always comes in descending order, not ascending—especially spiritual knowledge. Ascending means speculation from below; descending means revelation from above. The Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the supreme authority—Lord Krishna Himself.”
“You are from?”
“Delhi… Please read it at least once. Please…”
A thoughtful pause, then a quiet nod. “…Ok… Thanks..”
As he accepted the book, the platform noise seemed to fade for a moment, replaced by the subtle vibration of Krishna’s words finding a new home.
I am thankful to this sincere traveller for accepting the Bhagavad Gita!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who carried this descending knowledge across oceans so that even strangers on railway platforms could hear Lord Krishna speak directly.
This platform conversation is a beautiful reminder for all of us: In material life, we happily accept help—trains, planes, doctors, teachers, books—because we recognize our limitations. Yet when it comes to knowing the Supreme, we sometimes insist on “doing it ourselves” through speculation. Lord Krishna, in His kindness, doesn’t leave us to guess. He speaks through shastra—perfect, authorized, descending knowledge—so we can rise above our conditioned state and return to Him.
The next time someone asks, “Why scriptures only?” you can smile and say: “Because we can’t fly to the spiritual world on our own wings—but Lord Krishna has already sent the perfect train. All we have to do is, board it.”
Have you ever felt the difference between speculating about life’s big questions and receiving clear guidance from scriptures? Or had a moment where authorized knowledge cut through your own doubts? Share below—your reflection might help someone else step onto the right platform today.
More divine dialogues coming soon, all contributing to a book of these sacred, awakening moments. Keep hearing from the supreme authority—Lord Krishna is speaking right now.