Described in the Vedas - The Perfect Science of the Absolute
The modern world often dismisses ancient scriptures as mere mythology or primitive imagination. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the descriptions found within the Vedas constitute a flawless, comprehensive science that details both the exact workings of the material cosmos and the supreme, eternal nature of the Absolute Truth.
A Complete Science
The scope of Vedic knowledge is unlimited, covering every aspect of civilized human life. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the Vedas perfectly describe not only spiritual philosophy but also the practical sciences of society, medicine, and complex planetary astronomy.
- The Vedic truths are all perfect descriptions of the factual truth without any mistake or illusion, and Sukadeva Gosvami wants to present the truths of creation not as a metaphysical theory of philosophical speculation, but as the actual facts.
- There are different branches of knowledge in the Vedic writings, including sociology, politics, medicine and military art. All these and other branches of knowledge are perfectly described in the Vedas.
- The truths described in the Vedic literatures are not theories of mundane imagination, nor are they fictitious, as the less intelligent class of men sometimes think.
- Don't think that these description in the Vedas, they are stories. They are not stories. They are facts. But we cannot accommodate in our poor teeny brain. That's all. So what we shall understand about God? It is not possible.
The Ultimate Purpose of the Vedas
While the Vedas offer pathways for material success through ritualistic activities (karma-kāṇḍa), these are ultimately designed to gradually elevate the soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the singular, ultimate purpose of all Vedic description is to bring the living entity to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- The ultimate purpose of the Vedas is to reach Krsna. That's all. So this is the ultimate goal of life, and Vedas describes this, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is describing also. We shall come to this point gradually.
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita (15.15), vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: by all the Vedas, it is Krsna who is to be known. Lord Sri Krsna, setting an example by His own behavior, performed many ritualistic ceremonies described in the Vedas.
- One who fully surrenders unto the Lord to render service unto Him, out of spontaneous love for Him, factually assimilates the essence of all knowledge described in the Vedas.
- The Vedas are described as setu, which means "a bridge." If one wants to attain his spiritual existence, one has to cross an ocean of nescience. The Vedas are the bridge by which to cross such a great ocean.
The Form of the Supreme Lord
Impersonalist philosophers often quote isolated Vedic texts to argue that God is an amorphous energy. Śrīla Prabhupāda completely refutes this by pointing out that the Vedas provide explicit, vivid descriptions of the Supreme Lord's eternal, spiritual forms and His superhuman activities.
- Whatever Vedic mantras describe the Absolute Truth impersonally only prove in the end that the Absolute Truth is a person.
- When the Lord is described as formless in the Vedic literatures, it is to be understood that all these forms, within the experience of universal knowledge, are different exhibitions of the Lord's transcendental potencies.
- The descriptions in verses 9-11 (SB 3.21) of the Lord in His transcendental, eternal form are understood to be descriptions from the authoritative Vedic version. These descriptions are certainly not the imagination of Kardama Muni.
- The Vedas, the Upanisads, the Brahma-sutra and the Puranas all describe the activities of the spiritual potency of the Lord. If one cannot accept the personal activities of the Lord, he jokes foolishly and gives an impersonal description.
The Danger of Interpretation
To benefit from a perfect science, one must strictly follow its formulas. Śrīla Prabhupāda issues a stern warning that attempting to interpret or describe the Vedas using one's own imperfect mental speculation destroys the potency of the text and constitutes a disastrous blunder.
- To describe the Vedic literatures in one's own way, using imperfect senses and imperfect knowledge, is a disastrous blunder. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fully deprecated the attempt to describe the Vedas in this way.
- To describe the direct meaning of the Vedic literatures is glorious, but to describe them in one’s own way, using imperfect senses and imperfect knowledge, is a disastrous blunder.
- Caitanya recommends that one understand the Vedic literature in terms of abhidha-vrtti, and the gauna-vrtti He rejects. Sometimes, however, as a matter of necessity, the Vedic literature is described in terms of the laksana-vrtti or gauna-vrtti.
- Sometimes the word bhavana is misinterpreted as "imagination." But bhavana does not mean "imagination;" it means giving actual shape to the description of Vedic literature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes the absolute supremacy of the knowledge found within the Vedas. Far from being a collection of ancient myths, the Vedic literatures offer a perfect, scientific description of reality, meticulously detailing both the material mechanics of the universe and the spiritual nature of the Supreme Lord. While the Vedas provide extensive information on various subjects and pathways for material elevation, their ultimate and singular purpose is to act as a bridge, guiding the conditioned soul to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. To realize this supreme goal, one must completely abandon the tendency to interpret or mold the scriptures to fit mundane logic. By accepting the direct meaning of the Vedas as they are, without the contamination of mental speculation, the sincere practitioner gives actual, practical shape to these divine descriptions, successfully navigating the ocean of nescience to attain eternal, spiritual perfection.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Described in the Vedas. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.