Shloka 32
The Lord in the Heart and the Discipline of Yoga-Bhakti
एते सृती ते नृप वेदगीते त्वयाभिपृष्टे च सनातने च । ये वै पुरा ब्रह्मण आह तुष्ट आराधितो भगवान् वासुदेव: ॥ ३२ ॥
ete sṛtī te nṛpa veda-gīte tvayābhipṛṣṭe ca sanātane ca ye vai purā brahmaṇa āha tuṣṭa ārādhito bhagavān vāsudevaḥ
اے بادشاہ! یہ راستے ویدوں میں گائے گئے ہیں، اور تمہارے سوال کے جواب میں جو کہا گیا وہ ازلی و ابدی سچ ہے۔ قدیم زمانے میں، درست عبادت سے راضی ہو کر بھگوان واسودیو نے یہ باتیں خود برہما سے فرمائیں۔
The two different ways of reaching the spiritual sky and thereby getting emancipation from all material bondage, namely either the direct process of reaching the kingdom of God or the gradual process through the other higher planets of the universe, are set forth exactly according to the version of the Vedas. The Vedic versions in this connection are, yadā sarve pramucyante kāmā ye ’sya hṛdi śritāḥ/ atha martyo ’mṛto bhavaty atra brahma samaśnute ( Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad 4.4.7) and te ’rcir abhisambhavanti ( Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad 6.2.15): “Those who are free from all material desires, which are diseases of the heart, are able to conquer death and enter the kingdom of God through the Arci planets.” These Vedic versions corroborate the version of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the latter is further confirmed by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who affirms that the truth was disclosed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, to Brahmā, the first authority on the Vedas. The disciplic succession holds that the Vedas were uttered by Lord Kṛṣṇa to Brahmā, by Brahmā to Nārada, and by Nārada to Vyāsadeva, and then by Vyāsadeva to Śukadeva Gosvāmī and so on. So there is no difference between the versions of all the authorities. The truth is eternal, and as such there cannot be any new opinion about the truth. That is the way of knowing the knowledge contained in the Vedas. It is not a thing to be understood by one’s erudite scholarship or by the fashionable interpretations of mundane scholars. There is nothing to be added and nothing to be subtracted, because the truth is the truth. One has to accept, after all, some authority. The modern scientists are also authorities for the common man for some scientific truths. The common man follows the version of the scientist. This means that the common man follows the authority. The Vedic knowledge is also received in that way. The common man cannot argue about what is beyond the sky or beyond the universe; he must accept the versions of the Vedas as they are understood by the authorized disciplic succession. In the Bhagavad-gītā also the same process of understanding the Gītā is stated in the Fourth Chapter. If one does not follow the authoritative version of the ācāryas, he will vainly search after the truth mentioned in the Vedas.
FAQs
This verse points to the Vedic presentation of two recognized spiritual approaches, presented as ancient and authoritative, culminating in worship of the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva.
Śukadeva cites Brahmā to establish that the teaching is primordial and trustworthy—heard and affirmed by the first created being—thereby strengthening Parīkṣit’s inquiry with scriptural lineage.
Treat Vedic study and spiritual practice as meant to culminate in sincere worship of Vāsudeva—by hearing, chanting, remembrance, and aligning choices with devotion to the Lord.