Traits of a True Guru - Yajur Ved

It is written in Yajurved Adhyay 19 Mantra 25, 26 that a True Guru will elaborate the incomplete sentences of the Vedas i.e. the coded words and one-fourth shloks by completing them, and will impart the worship of three times. In the morning, worship of Supreme God; in the afternoon, regard of the gods of the world, and will tell Sandhya Aarti (evening prayer) separately. He is a beneficent saint of the world.

Yajurved Adhyay 19 Mantra 25

Arddh richaeH ukthanm roopam padaeH aapnoti nividH 
PrnvaeH shastranam roopam paysa somH aapyate |25|

Translation: A saint who (Arddh richaeH) by completing the incomplete sentences i.e coded words of the Vedas (nividH) fills in (padaeH) the fourth parts of the Shlok i.e. partial sentences (ukthaanm ) stotras (roopam ) in the form of (aapnoti) receives i.e. completely understands and explains the partial description (shastraanam ) like, one who knows how to operate the weapons (roopam ) uses them fully; similarly, a Complete Saint (prnvaeH) completely understanding and explaining the Omkaars i.e. Om - Tat -Sat mantras (paysa) sieves milk-water i.e. provides the Tatvgyan-like waterless milk, by which (somH) Eternal Purush i.e. Eternal God (aapyate) attains. That Complete Saint is said to be the knower of the Vedas.

Translation: A saint, who fills in by completing the incomplete sentences i.e. coded words of the Vedas; perceives the fourth part i.e. partial sentences of the shloks in the form of stotras i.e. completely understands and explains the partial description; just as one who knows how to operate the weapons uses them fully; likewise, a Complete Saint completely understanding and explaining the Omkaars i.e. Om -Tat -Sat mantras, sieves milk-water i.e. provides Tatvgyan-like waterless milk, by which one attains the Eternal Purush i.e. the Eternal God, that Complete Saint is said to be the knower of the Vedas.

Meaning: A Tatvdarshi Saint is one who explains the coded words of the Vedas in detail; as a result of which Supreme God is attained. He is said to be the knower of the Vedas.

Yajurved Adhyay 19 Mantra 26

Ashvibhyam praatH savnm indren endrm madhyandinm
Vaishvdaivm sarasvatya trteeyam aaptm savnm |26|

Translation: That Complete Saint tells the worship of the three times (ashvibhyaam ) on the basis of a day formed by the rising and setting of sun (indren) foremost, the Master of all gods, Supreme God's (praatH savnm ) tells to do pooja in the morning, which (endrm ) is for the Supreme God. Second (madhyandinm ) tells to do at midday, which (vaishvdainm ) related to the regard of all the gods (sarasvatya) says to do sadhna through sacred speech, and (trteeyam ) third (savnm ) pooja in the evening (aaptm ) attains i.e. one who tells to separately do the sadhna of the three times, he is a beneficent Saint of the world.

Translation: That Complete Saint tells the sadhna of the three times. On the basis of a day formed by the rising and setting of sun, tells to foremost do the worship of Supreme God, the Master of all the gods, in the morning, which is for the Complete God (Supreme God). Tells the second to be done at midday i.e. tells to do sadhna through sacred speech which is related to the regard of all the gods, and attains the third pooja in the evening i.e. tells to do sadhna of the three times separately. He is a beneficent Saint of the world.

Meaning: The Complete Saint about whom there is a mention in Mantra 25, he tells to do worship three times (morning - midday - and in the evening) in a day. Tells to do worship of Supreme God in the morning, regard of all the gods at midday, and in the evening Sandhya Aarti etc by means of sacred speech. He is a well-wisher of the entire world.

Yajurved Adhyay 19 Mantra 30

Vrten deeksham aapnoti deekshya aapnoti dakshinam
Dakshina shraddham aapnoti shraddhya satyam aapyate |30|

Translation: (Vrten) by keeping fasts of the vices i.e. a worshipper who abstains from cannabis, alcohol, meat and tobacco etc (deeksham ) initiation from a Complete Saint (aapnoti) attains i.e. becomes a disciple of the Complete Saint (deekshya) the Complete Saint, from the initiated disciple (dakshinam ) charity (aapnoti) attains i.e. a saint only takes donation from one who takes naam from him. Thus, according to the rule (dakshina) one who performs meritorious acts by giving charity-donation as directed by Gurudev, by that (shraddhaam ) devotion (aapnoti) attains (shraddhya) by doing bhakti with devotion (satyam ) the ever-lasting happiness and God i.e. the Eternal God (aapyate) attains.

Translation: A worshipper, who keeps fast of vices i.e. abstains from cannabis, alcohol, meat and tobacco etc, obtains initiation from a Complete Saint i.e. becomes disciple of a Complete Saint. A Complete Saint receives charity from an initiated disciple i.e. a saint takes donation from only that person who obtains naam from him. Thus, one, who adequately performs meritorious acts by giving charity-donation as directed by the Gurudev, attains devotion. By doing bhakti with devotion, one attains the ever-lasting happiness and God i.e. the Eternal God.

Meaning: A Complete Saint only makes that person his disciple, who always maintains good conduct; who gives the assurance of not consuming the prohibited food and intoxicating substances. A Complete Saint accepts charity from only that person who becomes his disciple, and who after taking initiation from gurudev, then gives charity-donation, by which devotion increases. By doing true bhakti with devotion, the Eternal God is attained i.e. one becomes completely liberated. A Complete Saint will not wander about asking for alms and donations.

FAQs about Traits of a True Guru - Yajur Ved

Q. 3 What differentiates a true guru from a false guru?

Q.4 What is one feature of Yajur Veda?

Q.5 Who is the original guru?

Q.6 What kind of worship does a true guru teach?

Q.7 What conduct does a true guru expect from disciples?

Q.8 What kind of charity does a true guru accept?