薄伽梵歌 13.12

解脱的圣者对“我”（Atman，阿特曼）保持恒常的觉知。他深知唯有“我”的知识是永恒的，而所有与世俗相关的学问皆是“无知”（Ajñana，阿吉那那）。他明白，引向“我”之证悟的知识才是唯一的真理。从谦逊开始的这些品德被宣称为“知识”，因为它们有助于获取知识，是达到知识的途径。它们是知识的次要或辅助原因。这种“我”之知识的果实是从生死轮回（Saṃsāra，桑萨拉）中解脱。灵性求道者应始终铭记知识的最终目标，唯有如此，他才会努力培养各种有助于获得“我”之知识的美德。与知识相对立的，即是欲望、愤怒、贪婪、骄傲、虚伪、执著、狡猾、诡计、伤害他人等，这些都是“无知”。这些由“无知”产生的邪恶特质将人束缚在生死轮回中。若想获得“我”的知识，就必须根除这些阻碍解脱之路的邪恶特质。若能培养与这些邪恶特质相对立的美德，它们便会自行消亡，如同花园中缺水的植物自行枯萎一样。通过与之对抗来根除邪恶特质是困难的。

The liberated sage has constant awareness of the Self. He knows that knowledge of the Self alone is permanent and all other learning relating to this world is ignorance. He knows that the knowledge which leads to the realisation of the Self is the only truth.These attributes beginning with humility are declared to be knowledge? because they are conducive to knowledge they are the means to knowledge. They are secondary or auxiliary causes of knowledge. The fruit of this knowledge of the Self is deliverance from the round of births and deaths. The spiritual aspirant should always keep the end of knowledge in view. Only then will he attempt to develop the various virtues which are conducive to the attainment of knowledge of the Self. What is opposed to knowledge? viz.? lust? anger? greed? pride? hypocrisy? attachment? cunningness? diplomacy? injuring others? is ignorance. These evil traits which are the products of ignorance bind a man to Samsara. If you wish to attain the knowledge of the Self you will have to eradicate these evil traits which stand as stumbling blocks on the path of salvation. If you cultivate the opposite virtues? the evil traits will die by themselves just as the plants which are deprived of water in a garden die by themselves. It is difficult to eradicate the evil traits by fighting against them.