An excerpt from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (11.19.27–45) in which Lord Kṛṣṇa answers Uddhava’s questions about seeing the world in the proper way.
Q: What is dharma?
A: That which produces devotion to Me.
Q: What is knowledge (jñān)?
A: Seeing the presence of the Supersoul.
Q: What is detachment (vairāgya)?
A: Disinterest in the sense objects.
Q: What is equanimity (śama)?
A: Being intent upon Me (not simply peace of mind).
Q: What is discipline (dama)?
A: Control of the senses (not control over others).
Q: What is tolerance (titikṣā)?
A: Enduring suffering (as prescribed by the scriptures or as inflicted by disrespectful persons; not a foolish self-induced attempt to endure heat or cold).
Q: What is steadiness (dhṛti)?
A: Mastery of the tongue and genitals (other types of steadiness are useless without this).
Q: What is the greatest charity (dāna)?
A: Giving up aggression towards others (not just giving wealth).
Q: What is austerity (tapa)?
A: Giving up enjoyment (for the sake of performing service and observing vows; not inflicting pain on the body).
Q: What is prowess (śaurya)?
A: Mastery of one’s acquired nature (not demonstrating strengths of the mind or body).
Q: What is truthfulness (satya)?
A: Seeing everything equally (seeing others’ suffering as one’s own; not simply speaking facts).
Q: What is honesty (ṛta)?
A: Speaking truth in a kind manner (not simply speaking facts, which can be distasteful and critical).
Q: What is cleanliness (śaucha)?
A: Detachment from worldly actions (not just a clean body).
Q: What is renunciation (tyāga)?
A: Completely giving up possessiveness (not simply giving up enjoyment).
Q: What is honourable wealth (iṣṭa dhana)?
A: Dharma (not cows, land, etc.).
Q: What is sacrifice (yajña)?
A: I am (serving Me is sacrifice, not giving up temporary objects).
Q: What is a reward (dakṣiṇa)?
A: Conveying knowledge (spiritual realisation; not money, cloth, etc.).
Q: What is fortune (bhaga)?
A: My opulence (not the majesty of the gods or others).
Q: What is the greatest gain (lābha)?
A: Devotion to Me (not children, wealth, etc.)
Q: What is learning (vidyā)?
A: Removing coverings over the self (not grammar, theory, etc.).
Q: What is modesty (hrī)?
A: Disinterest in sinful action (not simply shyness).
Q: What is beauty (śrī)?
A: Virtues such as impartiality (not ornaments, clothing, etc.)
Q: What is happiness (sukha)?
A: Overcoming sadness and (worldly) happiness (not enjoying objects of the senses).
Q: What is suffering (duḥkha)?
A: Seeking happiness in enjoyment (not being burned, diseased, etc.)
Q: Who is wise (paṇḍita)?
A: One who understands bondage and liberation (not one who explains scripture).
Q: Who is foolish (mūrkha)?
A: One who identifies oneself with the body and mind.
Q: What is the path (panthā)?
A: The way to Me (not simply a path that is easy to travel).
Q: What is the wrong path (utpatha)?
A: Indulging the mind (not simply crime, sin, etc.).
Q: What is heaven (svarga)?
A: The prevalence of goodness (not the abode of the gods).
Q: What is hell (naraka)?
A: The prevalence of ignorance (not just a place ridden with suffering).
Q: Who is a friend (bandhu)?
A: Śrī Guru, that is, I (not brothers, sisters, etc.).
Q: What is home (gṛha)?
A: The human body (not just a comfortable place).
Q: Who is wealthy (āḍhya)?
A: A person of virtue (not someone who possesses wealth).
Q: Who is poor (daridra)?
A: One who is unsatisfied (not simply someone who has nothing).
Q: Who is pitiable (kṛpaṇa)?
A: One who has no control over the senses (not simply someone who is poor).
Q: Who is independent (īśvara)?
A: One who is unattached to the sense objects (not a king or possessor of material things).
Q: Who is dependent (anīśvara)?
A: One who is attached to the sense objects.
Q: What is bad (doṣa)?
A: Seeing (worldly) good and bad.
Q: What is good (guṇa)?
A: Overlooking (worldly) good and bad.