Shloka 24
The Appearance of Śrī Nārada and Vyāsa’s Dissatisfaction
Veda-vibhāga and the Need for Bhakti
त एव वेदा दुर्मेधैर्धार्यन्ते पुरुषैर्यथा । एवं चकार भगवान् व्यास: कृपणवत्सल: ॥ २४ ॥
ta eva vedā durmedhair dhāryante puruṣair yathā evaṁ cakāra bhagavān vyāsaḥ kṛpaṇa-vatsalaḥ
เพื่อให้ผู้มีปัญญาน้อยก็ยังสามารถรับรู้พระเวทได้ ภควานวยาสะผู้เมตตาต่อผู้ยากเข็ญจึงได้ชำระเรียบเรียงพระเวทเหล่านั้น
The Veda is one, and the reasons for its divisions in many parts are explained herewith. The seed of all knowledge, or the Veda, is not a subject matter which can easily be understood by any ordinary man. There is a stricture that no one should try to learn the Vedas who is not a qualified brāhmaṇa. This stricture has been wrongly interpreted in so many ways. A class of men, who claim brahminical qualification simply by their birthright in the family of a brāhmaṇa, claim that the study of the Vedas is a monopoly of the brāhmaṇa caste only. Another section of the people take this as an injustice to members of other castes, who do not happen to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family. But both of them are misguided. The Vedas are subjects which had to be explained even to Brahmājī by the Supreme Lord. Therefore the subject matter is understood by persons with exceptional qualities of goodness. Persons who are in the modes of passion and ignorance are unable to understand the subject matter of the Vedas. The ultimate goal of Vedic knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. This Personality is very rarely understood by those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance. In the Satya-yuga everyone was situated in the mode of goodness. Gradually the mode of goodness declined during the Tretā and Dvāpara-yugas, and the general mass of people became corrupt. In the present age the mode of goodness is almost nil, and so for the general mass of people, the kindhearted, powerful sage Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the Vedas in various ways so that they may be practically followed by less intelligent persons in the modes of passion and ignorance. It is explained in the next śloka as follows.
FAQs
Because many people with diminished understanding could not properly grasp the Vedas, Vyāsa compassionately organized Vedic knowledge so it could be learned and applied more easily.
Sūta Gosvāmī speaks to the sages headed by Śaunaka at Naimiṣāraṇya while describing Vyāsa’s work for the welfare of people in the age of decline.
Recognize one’s limits and learn spiritual truth through clear, structured scriptures and authentic teachers—choosing practical, digestible study that leads to devotion and character.