Svadhyaya:

Study systematically the Gita, the Ramayana, the Bible, the Koran, the Zend Avesta, the Granth Saheb etc. according to your religion daily or on holidays.

Commentary:

The great men of wisdom (the illumined sages or Rishis) have left their wisdom teachings in the form of scriptures (a few of which are listed above). They have produced these scriptures for our guidance, for our protection and for our caution. To them the whole world is eternally grateful. Making use of these scriptures by daily study is an attempt to repay our debt of gratitude to them. This study is called Svadhyaya. Svadhyaya brings about purity of thought.

The riches source of knowledge (which distinguishes human being from all lesser species like animals, birds etc. is the wisdom teachings of the Rishis in the form of the scriptures. Not to take recourse to them will be the height of ingratitude and our failure to recognize their great worth and value.

The greatest virtue of a human being is gratitude. Let us assert our humanity by expressing our gratitude to the Rishis. This should be done by going to the source of knowledge—the living waters of wisdom (i.e. scriptures) and by drinking of them daily or on holidays.