The genius of the author of the Mahābhārata conceived in Kṛshṇa a model, which epitomizes Brahman (the Absolute) and appears on earth in the human form. Vyāsa's Kṛshṇa is Brahman, the universe, the guru, and an ideal human being at the same time.
The individuated self is amost always performing the relativistic dharma. The inner urge of a human being to transcend the limitations of the body is the influence of absolute dharma.
Reading and absorbing teachings of śruti is as beneficial as directly hearing the words of a guru, for they are nothing but the recorded teachings of the ṛshis. Reading them with śraddhā is as good as śravana (listening to a guru).
