11. Hence the primary cause of spiritual light is the intelligence of a man and which is gained by exertion of his mental powers only; the secondary causes may be the blessing and grace of a deity, but I wish you to prefer the former one for your salvation. (So it is knowledge and intrinsic merit which exalt a man, and not the mere favour of a patron, is ever able to raise the unworthy). 12. Exert therefore your manliness at first, to keep the quintuple organs of sense under proper control; and habituate yourself with all diligence to cultivate your understanding, and the power of reasoning. 13. For know whatever gain any one makes at any time, it is owing to his own endeavours only that he gains the same, and not by any other means whatever. 14. It is only by dependence on your manly powers, that you can surmount the insuperable barriers of your sensual appetites; and then by crossing over the ocean of this world, reach to the other shore of supreme felicity. 15. It requires no exertion or manly effort to see the figure of Vishnu; but the mere sight of the image is not sufficient to save you, or else the birds and beasts would all be saved by looking at it. 16. If it were in the power of the spiritual guide also to save his foolish followers by his preachings; it would be possible also to the leaders of camels and kine, to save their herds in their future lives. (This figure is set in many temples, and in stones also). 17. It is in the power of the mind only to acquire anything good for one’s self, and not the favour of Hari or that of Hara, or the influence of money, that is able to effect anything. 18. It is by means of constant practice, accompanied by self-resignation and self-controul, that one is enabled to effect anything; and whatever he is unable to do by these means, is impossible for him to do by any other in the three worlds. 19. Look to the spirit in the spirit, and adore the spirit in your own soul; behold the supreme soul in yourself, and have the universal soul in your own soul, and thus remain with it. 20. Fools flying from attending to the sástras, or practising their self-devotion and exercise of reason, have adopted to themselves the Vaishnava faith as a path leading to their better being (or a means towards the great object of final beatitude). 21. Practice and diligence are said to be steps to self-edification, and rites and ceremonies are represented as secondary courses resorted to for want of the former! 22. The senses being refractory what is the good of ceremonial observances, and these being under control, it is useless to observe the ritual. (In both ways the rituals are useless to men of virtuous and vicious habits; the former being in no need, of them and the latter not benefiting by them).