इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन ।न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ॥
idaṃ te nātapaskāya nābhaktāya kadācana |na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ na ca māṃ yo 'bhyasūyati ||
- इदम् · idam
- this
- ते · te
- by you
- न · na
- not
- अतपस्काय · atapaskāya
- to one without discipline
- न · na
- not
- अभक्ताय · abhaktāya
- to one without devotion
- कदाचन · kadācana
- ever
- न · na
- not
- अशुश्रूषवे · aśuśrūṣave
- to one unwilling to listen
- वाच्यम् · vācyam
- to be spoken
- न · na
- nor
- माम् · mām
- at me
- यः · yaḥ
- who
- अभ्यसूयति · abhyasūyati
- sneers, finds fault
“This shall never be spoken by you to one without discipline, without devotion, unwilling to listen — nor to one who sneers at me.”
— Original plain-language translation
After the supreme secret comes its seal: four unfit recipients — the undisciplined, the devout-less, the closed-eared, the mocking. Restriction here protects both teaching and hearer; pearls need readiness. Compare 3.26 and 9.3 on teaching only those who can receive it.
— Reader's notes (original)