Mundaka 1.05
tatrāparā ṛgvedo yajurvedaḥ sāmavedo'tharvavedaḥ। śikṣā kalpo vyākaraṇaṃ niruktaṃ chandaujyotiṣamiti। atha parā yayā tadakṣaramadhigamyate ॥5॥
In that context, the lower knowledge consists of the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, and the sciences of phonetics, rituals, grammar, etymology, metrics, and astronomy. The highest knowledge is that through which the imperishable truth is realized.
Bhāshya 1.05
Various testimonials are provided to substantiate - "All knowledge including the Vedas are considered as higher knowledge when they are interpreted to understand the supreme Lord Vishnu. But the same text is considered as lower knowledge when it does not convey Lord Vishnu". The Lord is worshipped by people with the three Vedas distinctly in Treta-Yuga. In Dvapara-Yuga, Vishnu is worshipped by people with Pancharatra only. But in the Kali-Yuga, the Lord Hari is worshipped by name alone.
ṛgādyā aparā vidyā yadā viṣṇorna vācakāḥ। tā eva paramā vidyā yadā viṣṇostu vācakāḥ॥
"The Vedas, starting with the Rigveda, are considered inferior knowledge when they do not describe Vishnu. However, they become supreme knowledge when they do describe Lord Vishnu."
iti paramasaṁhitāyām।
- stated thus in the Paramasaṁhitā testimonial.
"ṛgbhirhautreṇa śaṁsanti tathaudgātraiḥ stuvanti ye। viṣṇumeva tathā tasmai yajurbhirapi juhvati॥ stuvantyatharvaṇaiścainaṁ setihāsapurāṇakaiḥ। na viṣṇusadṛśaṁ kiṁṅcitparamaṁ vāpi manvate॥ sarvottamaṁ taṁ jānantaste hi bhāgavatottamāḥ॥"
"The Hotṛ priests praise Viṣṇu with Rig Veda hymns, and the Udgātṛ priests sing his praises. They offer oblations to him with Yajur Veda hymns. He is praised with Atharva Veda hymns, histories, and Puranas. There is nothing like Lord Viṣṇu, nor anything superior. Those who know him as the best of all are indeed the best among devotees."
"vede rāmāyaṇe caiva purāṇe bhārate tathā। ādāvante ca madhye ca viṣṇuḥ sarvatra gīyate॥"
"In the Vedas, in the Ramayana, certainly in the Puranas, in the Mahabharata, also in the beginning, in the end, and in the middle, Lord Vishnu is sung everywhere."
"etadante ca madhye ca brahmaivoktvā vijānatām। ṛgādi pañcadhā sansthaṃ śabdabrahma praśāmyati॥"
"The sound-Brahman, beginning with the Rigveda and in the middle, and at the end - the wise declare Brahman alone, established in fivefold form, comes to rest."
"yaṁ vākeṣvanuvākeṣu niṣatsūpaniṣatsu ca। stuvanti satyakarmāṇaṁ satyaṁ satyeṣu sāmasu॥"
"Whom they praise in the words, in the repetitions, in the assemblies, in the Upanishads, and who is truthful in actions, truth in the truths, in the Sama Veda hymns".
"sarve vedā yatpadamāmananti tapāṃsi sarvāṇi ca yadvadanti। yadichanto brahmacaryaṃ caranti tatte padaṃ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye॥"
"I shall briefly explain to you that state which all the Vedas proclaim, which all austerities speak of, and desiring which, they practice celibacy."
"vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedāntakṛd vedavid eva cāham।"
"I am to be known through all the Vedas; I am the author of Vedānta and the knower of the Vedas."
iti ca bhārate।
- stated thus in the Mahabharata.
"caturdaśa mahāvidyāsthānāni veditavyāni bhavanti।"
"There are fourteen places of great knowledge that should be known."
iti ca mūlaśrutiḥ।
- stated thus in the Mūlaśrutiḥ Vedic testimonial.
"pañcarātryāgamādyāśca sarvamekaṃ purā''bhavat। mūlaved a iti hyākhyā kāle kṛtayuge tadā॥ naivarkasāmādināmāni tadā vedasya cābhavan। naiva cendrādi nāmāni viṣṇoranyatra kutracit। brahmarudrendrapūrvāistu nāmabhiḥ procyate hariḥ॥"
"In ancient times, the Pancaratra and other Agamas were unified into one. This unified scripture was known as the original Veda during the Krita age. At that time, the names such as Rig, Sama, and others did not exist for the Veda, nor were names like Indra and others associated with Vishnu found elsewhere. However, Hari was referred to by names like Brahma, Rudra, and Indra."
devatātvena cejyaḥ saḥ brahmādyā manunāmakāḥ। vaktr̥tvena pitr̥tvena kāritvenaiva cādarāt। jyante devatāḥ sarvā na tu devatayā kvacit। ananyayājinaste tu tasmādkārtayugā janāḥ। prāpnuvanti hariṃ taṃ ca tasmādvede na kiñcana॥ pārāvaryam hareryasmādutthitāsturagānanāt। r̥gādyā anuvyākhyāntāstasmāt sarvairhariṃ yajet॥
He only was worshipped as a deity, named like Brahma, Manu and others. He was respected for his roles as a speaker, a father, and a doer. All deities born at that time were not termed deities and thus, those who worshiped no-other than Lord Hari belonged to the Krita Yuga. As they saw nothing else in the Veda than Lord Hari, they attained Lord Hari. The superior and the inferior aspects of knowledge, having arisen from the horse-faced Hari, are explained in the Rig and other texts later. Hence, Lord Hari should be worshipped by all.
tasmād brahmādayaḥ sarve manavo mānavās tathā। yajanti sarvavedais taṃ jānanti ca viniścayāt॥ aśaktaḥ pañcarātreṇa ṛgādyair vātha taṃ yajet। ṛgādyair eva sa traitair bhinnair iṣṭo janair hariḥ॥ dvāparīyair janair viṣṇuḥ pañcarātrais tu kevalaiḥ। kalau tu nāmamātreṇa pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ॥
Therefore, Brahma and others, all Manus and humans also worship him, Lord Hari, with all the Vedas and know him with certainty. If unable to do so with Rig and others, one should worship him with the Pancharatra. He is worshipped by people with the three Vedas distinctly in Treta Yuga. In Dvapara Yuga, Vishnu is worshipped by people with Pancharatra only. But in the Kali Yuga, the Lord Hari is worshipped by name alone.
eko vedaḥ kṛte hyāsīt tretāyāṃ sa tridha'bhavat। sa eva pañcadhā jāto dvāparaṃ prāpya vai yugam॥ utsannaḥ sa kaliṃ prāpya vedaḥ prāyeṇa sarvaśaḥ। mukhyo dharmaḥ kārtayugo vartitavyaḥ kalāvapi॥ tretādau tadaśaktyā hi dharmo'nyaḥ samprakīrtitaḥ।
In the Krita age, there was only one Veda. In the Treta age, it was divided into three parts. By the time of the Dvapara age, it had become fivefold. As the Kali age approached, the Veda was mostly lost. The main dharma of the Krita age should still be followed in the Kali age. At the beginning of the Treta age, due to certain limitations, another dharma was proclaimed.
kṛte bhāgavatāḥ sarve vedāśca puruṣāstathā॥ tretāyāṃ bhinnaviṣayāḥ tatastraividyatāṃ gatāḥ। tasmādekaḥ sarvavedairjñeyo viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ॥ pūjyo yajñaiḥ sopacārairdhyeyo vandyaśca sarvadā॥"
In the Krita Yuga, all beings and the Vedas were devoted to the Lord. In the Treta Yuga, they pursued different subjects and attained threefold knowledge. Therefore, Vishnu, the eternal, is the one to be known through all the Vedas, worshipped through sacrifices and services, meditated upon, and revered at all times."
ityādi nārāyaṇasaṁhitāyām।
- stated thus in Nārāyaṇasaṁhitā testimonial.
"vedavādāś cānuyugaṃ hrasantīti hi naḥ śrutiḥ॥"
"Our scriptures indeed state that the doctrines of the Vedas diminish with each passing age."
iti bhārate।
- stated thus in the Mahabharata.
"vedaiś ca pañcarātraiś ca bhaktyā yajñais tathaiva ca। dṛśyo'haṃ nānyathā dṛśyo varṣakoṭiśatair api॥"
"Indeed, I can be seen through the Vedas, the Pancaratra scriptures, by devotion, and by sacrifices, but not otherwise, even in hundreds of millions of years."
ityādi vārāhe।
- stated thus in the Varaha Purana.
atrāpi 'tadetatsatyaṃ mantreṣu karmāṇi kavayo yānyapaśyan' ityādinā karmaviṣayāmaparavidyāmuktvā 'yenākṣaraṃ puruṣaṃ veda satyaṃ provāca tāṃ tattvato brahmavidyām' ityārabhyātharvaṇāneva mantrān paravidyātvenāha। caturveda saṃskāravatāmeva ca vidyāyāmadhikāra uktaḥ।
Even here, beginning with "That is the truth which the sages saw in the mantras as actions", having stated the lower knowledge concerning actions, commencing with "By which the imperishable person knows the truth, that truly declared the knowledge of Brahman", it is said that the Atharva Veda mantras are the higher knowledge. The authority in knowledge is said to be only for those with rites of the four Vedas.
"teṣāmevaitāṃ brahmavidyāṃ vadeta śirovrataṃ vidhivadyaitu cīrṇam"
"This knowledge of Brahman should be imparted only to those who have properly performed the vow of the head."
iti।
- stated thus.
śirovratamityupalakṣaṇatvena।
The vow of the head is thus considered as a sub-characteristic.
"svavedavratayuktasya sarvavedagatāsvapi । adhikāro'sti vidyāsu nāvedavratinaḥ kvacit॥"
"One who is engaged in his own Vedic vows has authority in all Vedic matters, but one who is not engaged in Vedic vows has no authority anywhere."
iti vyāsasmṛtau ॥
- thus it is stated in the Vyasa Smriti.
