Chapter XVIII · Śloka 67
इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन ।
न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ॥
न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ॥
idaṃ te nātapaskāya nābhaktāya kadācana |
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ na ca māṃ yo'bhyasūyati ||
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ na ca māṃ yo'bhyasūyati ||
This is never to be spoken by you to one who is without austerity, without devotion, without the desire to listen, nor to one who speaks ill of Me.
The teaching is a sacred trust to be shared only with the worthy — those with discipline, devotion, receptivity, and respect for the Divine. Misuse of sacred knowledge does harm both to the giver and the receiver.