The True Value of Mentorship

2. प्रश्नेन (to Question)

Your surrender should not be blind faith.

However right the guru/Mentor maybe, you can't live somebody else's conviction. Conviction has to be your own. You have to think and develop your own conviction and question your Guru humbly if necessary.

3. सेवया (by rendering service)

You have to repay your mentor in some sort of भेट or दक्षिणा. There's no need of materialistic भेट. The best form of दक्षिणा is that whatever you have learned from your mentor, you always keep passing that knowledge to someone else and continue गुरू-शिष्य परंपरा .

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |

उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: ||

Glossary :

tat—the truth; 

viddhi—try to learn;

praṇipātena—by approaching a spiritual master;

paripraśhnena—by humble inquiries;

sevayā—by rendering service;

upadekṣhyanti—can impart;

te—unto you;

jñānam—knowledge;

jñāninaḥ—the enlightened;

tattva-darśhinaḥ—those who have realized the truth

Translation :

Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.