Bhagavad Gita 4.34
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥
tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā | upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ ||
Translation
Learn that by prostration, by question, and by service. Those wise men who have seen the truth will instruct you in knowledge.
Reflection
Whose teaching are you about to question without having yet bowed to receive it?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Four
Three actions, in order. Praṇipāta, bowing down. Paripraśna, asking around. Sevā, service. The verse gives the protocol for receiving the highest teaching. Bow first. Ask next, and ask from all sides. Serve along the way. Upadekṣyanti te jñānam, they will teach you knowledge. Tattva-darśinaḥ, the ones who have seen the truth, are the ones to seek. Aurobindo: the verse is a corrective for the modern student who would want to ask first and bow last. The order is operational, not ceremonial.