Gurudevanrupekshaartham - A Guru is one who offers Shree Krishna Mantra (initiation). A Deva is one’s Ishtadev (personal God) and a Nrupa is a King. Na Gamyam Riktaparibhiha - should never be visited empty handed without a gift.
Just as we go to temple for Darshan and put money in the money box, take flowers, fruits etc. as an offering, in the same way when going to a Guru or King we should make similar offerings.
Shruti explains, ‘Disciples should go to their most learned and spiritual master (Guru), taking with them wood for sacrifice (Yagna).’ Smruti says, ‘One must never go empty handed to a king, one who delivers religious sermons or a Guru.’ Indeed Shastras explain that those who go empty handed are disrespectful and so should not even bother going as you are causing insult.
By taking a gift you are proclaiming your faith, devotion, allegiance and duty to such persons. You are displaying your love in a gesture of thanks. We certainly have a lot to thank God, a Guru and a righteous King for, and so a gift is a way of repaying your debt. It is not what you give, but with what love and devotion you give which is of importance. Bhakta Sudama was poor but gave a handful of rice with so much love that Krishna was awe struck.
Vishvasgaato No Karyaha - One should never commit a breach or trust (Vishvasgaat). Saying that you will commit yourself to some act for another and then betraying such trust is Visvasgaata and should never be committed. Smruti explains: Sa Mahapaataki Bhumau Yo Visvasyanyamardayed - ‘Those who breach a trust are great sinners.’ It is humane to keep your word and fulfil a promise. It is important to stay true to yourself and others. By so doing one becomes trustworthy and desirable. By breaching a trust, we often hurt others and put them in an awkward position. Building their hopes with your promises, only to be broken can lead to shattering consequences. One who is always true to his word is always famed and adored in this world.
Finally - Svashladhaasvamukhena Cha - to never praise oneself. Vyaas explains: Nindanyasyatmanaha Shladha Dvayam Sukrutnashkrud - ‘Those who slander others and who praise themselves destroy their Punya.’ Bhishma adds, ‘Those who never slander nor praise themselves attain great qualities achieving everlasting fame and respect.’
Shatanand endorses the fact that one should unreservedly praise others - Parshladha Tu Yathochitam Karya. One should readily praise great saints who are ‘mountains of spirituality’. By crediting such people, you yourself attain credit and fame. Such people should be highly acclaimed.
Self-praise, using ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ is very much undesirable. They make a person repulsive. It is always better and indeed proper to praise God rather than oneself as it is only through God’s support and will that we achieve these results and so the ‘I’ in such instances is always inappropriate. God is the ultimate cause and effect. He is capable of making the impoverished - wealthy and the wealthy - impoverished in an instance. Therefore we must never become egotistical, self-centred and big-headed so as to loose track of the truth that the Almighty is the true ‘giver’.
These Shlokas are truly great as they advise on drawing the better qualities from within, which build a person towards strength of character and good nature. It is these Shlokas which really make a person desirable and give fame and so it is important that we obey Lord Swaminarayan’s wishes in order to become better people.