अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते | तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः || २६ ||
anye tv evam ajānantaḥ śrutvānyebhya upāsate te 'pi cātitaranty eva mṛtyuṁ śruti-parāyaṇāḥ
anye—others; tu—but; evam—thus; ajānantaḥ—without knowing; śrutvā—having heard; anyebhyaḥ—from others; upāsate—worship; te—they; api—also; ca—and; atitaranti—overcome; eva—certainly; mṛtyum—death; śruti-parāyaṇāḥ—inclined to hear.
“But others, not knowing thus, worship having heard it from others — they too cross beyond death, devoted to what they have heard.”
A fourth path is added: the path of sacred hearing (shravana). Those who may not be capable of deep meditation, philosophical discrimination, or vigorous karma yoga can still cross beyond death simply by receiving the teaching with open, devoted hearts. This is the path of satsang and shruti — hearing from the wise. The quality of 'shrutai-parayan' — being devoted to hearing — is itself sufficient. The tradition of oral transmission is upheld as genuinely salvific.
Attending satsang, listening to teachings, reading scripture with an open heart — these are not lesser practices for those incapable of 'real' spirituality. They are themselves complete paths. If philosophical inquiry feels dry or meditation feels impossible, immerse yourself in sacred narrative, song, and the company of the wise. Devotion to hearing is itself a yoga.