Drona was a master of archery who was teaching archery to his student Arjun. Another student Ekalavya also wanted to learn from Drona, who refused to teach him. Ekalavya went back, installed a statue of Drona and learnt archery by imagining the statue to be the real master. As per legend, he turned out to be a better archer than Arjun. This story brings out many angles in the areas of the master-student (𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙪-𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙮𝙖) relationship and attaining knowledge.

This story helps us understand when Krishna says, "Some behold the Supreme Soul within themselves through meditation (𝙙𝙝𝙮𝙖𝙣) ; some through the cultivation of knowledge ( 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙝𝙮𝙖 𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙖) ; others through the path of action (𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖 𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙖 ) (13.25). There are still others who are unaware of these spiritual paths, but they listen to others (saints) and begin worshipping the Supreme Lord. They also attain immortality" (13.26). Like Ekalavya,  we too can perceive 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖 directly within ourselves or like Arjun, by listening to saints.

There is no one perfect path in a spiritual quest. Depending on one's personality, it differs from person to person. For the heart oriented, it is through devotion (𝙗𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙩𝙞) or surrender. For the intellect (𝙗𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙝𝙞) oriented it is the path of awareness (𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙝𝙮𝙖) . For the mind oriented it is the path of 𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖 (action). Though the approach, experiences and language of these paths are quite different, all of them lead to 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙖. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains about all these paths and our personality determines the path.

The path of 'realising through listening to saints' raises some doubts as to who is a saint or a guru and how to identify them. Earlier Krishna advised us to inculcate prostration (humility), questioning (of every aspect of ourselves) and service (compassion)(3.34). Ekalavya inculcated these qualities and the learning happened on its own as existence itself became the guru .