Prayers by the Personified Vedas
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will tell you a story which took place long, long ago. There was a great meeting of the denizens of the heavenly planets, and almost all the important  brahmacārīs , such as the four Kumāras—Sanat, Sanandana, Sanaka and Sanātana Kumāra—attended. Their discussion was on the subject matter of understanding the Absolute Truth, Brahman. You were not present at that meeting because you went to see My expansion Aniruddha, who lives on the island of Śvetadvīpa. In this meeting, all the great sages and  brahmacārīs  very elaborately discussed the point about which you have asked me, and it was very interesting. The discussion was so delicate that even the  Vedas  were unable to answer the intricate questions raised.
Nārāyana Rṣi told Nāradajī that the same question which Nāradajī had raised had been discussed in that meeting in Janaloka. This is the way of understanding through the  paramparā , or discipline succession. Mahārāja Parikṣit was sent to Śukadeva Gosvāmī; Śukadeva Gosvāmī referred the matter to Nārada, who had in the same way questioned Nārāyana Rṣi, who had put the matter to still higher authorities in the planet of Janaloka, where it was discussed among the great Kumāras—Sanat, Sanātana, Sanaka Kumāra and Sanandana. These four  brahmacārīs  are recognized scholars in the  Vedas  and  śāstras . Their unlimited volumes of knowledge, backed by austerities and penances, are exhibited by their sublime, ideal character. They are very amiable and gentle in behavior, and for them there is no distinction between friends, well-wishers and enemies. Being transcendentally situated, such personalities as the Kumāras are above all material considerations and are always neutral in respect to material dualities. In the discussions held among the four brothers, one of them, namely Sanandana, was selected to speak, and the other brothers became the audience to hear him.
Sanandana said, “After the dissolution of the whole cosmic manifestation, the entire energy and the whole creation in its nucleus form enters into the body of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. The Lord at that time remains asleep for a long, long time, and where there is again necessity of creation, the  Vedas  personified assemble around the Lord and begin to glorify Him, describing His wonderful transcendental pastimes. It is exactly like a king: when he is asleep in the morning, the appointed reciters come around his bedroom and begin to sing of his chivalrous activities, and while hearing of his glorious activities, the king gradually awakens.
“The Vedic reciters or the personified  Vedas  sing thus: ‘O unconquerable, You are the Supreme Personality. No one is equal to You or greater than You. No one can be more glorious in His activities. All glories unto