What The Student Gives — Bhagavad Gita 4.34

Learn it by humble approach, by honest questioning and by service. The wise who have seen the truth will teach you knowledge.

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥

tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya | upadekshyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darshinah ||
How to say it: tad VID-dhi pra-ni-PAA-te-na, pa-ri-PRASH-ne-na se-VA-yaa. u-pa-DEK-shyan-ti te GYAA-nam, gyaa-NI-nas tat-tva-DAR-shi-NAH.

Learn it by humble approach, by honest questioning and by service. The wise who have seen the truth will teach you knowledge.

Krishna names the student’s three payments: humility, questions, service. None is money. The teacher gives knowledge; the student gives respect and effort. The line also shows why this book invites questions and corrections: pariprashna , honest questioning, is part of learning.