Ādi-līlā, Chapter 7
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must be expressed ( hetu ), examples must be given in terms of various facts ( udāharaṇa ), the theme must gradually be brought nearer for understanding ( upanaya ), and finally it must be supported by authoritative quotations from the Vedic  śāstras  ( nigamana ).
According to the great dictionary compiler Hemacandra, also known as Koṣakara, Vedānta refers to the purport of the  Upaniṣads  and the  Brāhmaṇa  portion of the  Vedas . Professor Apte, in his dictionary, describes the  Brāhmaṇa  portion of the  Vedas  as that portion which states the rules for employment of hymns at various sacrifices and gives detailed explanations of their origin, sometimes with lengthy illustrations in the form of legends and stories. It is distinct from the  mantra  portion of the  Vedas . Hemacandra said that the supplement of the  Vedas  is called the  Vedānta-sūtra .  Veda  means knowledge, and  anta  means the end. In other words, proper understanding of the ultimate purpose of the  Vedas  is called Vedānta knowledge. Such knowledge, as given in the codes of the  Vedānta-sūtra , must be supported by the  Upaniṣads .
According to learned scholars, there are three different sources of knowledge, which are called  prasthāna-traya . According to these scholars, Vedānta is one of such sources, for it presents Vedic knowledge on the basis of logic and sound arguments. In  Bhagavad-gītā  (13.5) the Lord said,  brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva hetumadbhir viniścitaiḥ : "Understanding of the ultimate goal of life is ascertained in the  Brahma-sūtra  by legitimate logic and argument concerning cause and effect." Therefore the  Vedānta-sūtra  is known as  nyāya-prasthāna , the  Upaniṣads  are known as  śruti-prasthāna , and the  Gītā ,  Mahābhārata  and  Purāṇas  are known as  smṛti-prasthāna . All scientific knowledge of transcendence must be supported by  śruti ,  smṛti  and a sound logical basis.
It is said that both the Vedic knowledge and the supplement of the  Vedas  called the  Śātvata-pañcarātra  emanated from the breathing of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The  Vedānta-sūtra  codes were compiled by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the powerful incarnation of Śrī Nārāyaṇa, although it is sometimes said that they were compiled by a great sage named Apāntaratamā. Both the  Pañcarātra  and  Vedānta-sūtra , however, express the same opinions. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore confirms that there is no difference in opinion between the two, and He declares that because  Vedānta-sūtra  was compiled by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, it may be understood to have emanated from the breathing of Śrī Nārāyaṇa. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura comments that while Vyāsadeva was compiling the  Vedānta-sūtra , seven of his great saintly contemporaries were also engaged in similar work. These saints were Ātreya Rṣi, Āśmarathya, Auḍulomi, Kārṣnājini, Kāśakṛtsna, Jaimini and Bādarī. In addition, it is stated that Pārāśarī and Karmandībhikṣu also discussed the  Vedānta-sūtra  codes before Vyāsadeva.
The  Vedānta-sūtra  consists of four chapters. The first two chapters discuss the relationship of the living entity with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is known as  sambandha-jñāna , or knowledge of the relationship. The third chapter describes how one can act in his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called  abhidheya-jñāna . The relationship of the living entity with the Supreme Lord is described by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.  Jīvera svarūpa haya kṛṣṇera