98 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION
constantly to be praised’? (Siksdstaka3)]. Similarly, Madhvacarya
quotes, vede ramdyane caiva harih sarvatra giyate [‘‘Hari is sung about
everywhere in the Vedas and Ramdyana’’). Similarly, in the Bhagavad-
gitd [15.15] the Lord says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [‘‘By all the
Vedas, | am to be known’’].

In this way we find all the scriptures aiming at the Supreme Person. In
the Rg Veda [1.22.20] the mantra is om tad visnoh paramam padam sada
pasyanti stirayah [‘‘The demigods are always looking to that supreme
abode of Visnu’’]. The whole Vedic process, therefore, is to understand
Lord Visnu, and any scripture is directly or indirectly chanting the glories
of the Supreme Lord, Visnu.

Regarding the Bhagavad-gita, verse 9.14, kirtayantah certainly means
glorifying, chanting, reciting, and talking, as you have said; but glorify-
ing, chanting, or reciting about whom? It is certainly Krsna. The word
used in this connection is mdm [‘‘Me’’]. Therefore, we do not dis-

- agree when a person glorifies Krsna, as Sukadeva did in the Srimad-
Bhagavatam. This is also kirtanam. The highest among all Vedic
literatures is the proper place for such glorification of the Supreme Lord,
Krsna, and this is to be well understood from the verse:

nigama-kalpataror galitam phalam
Suka-mukhad amrta-drava-samyutam
pibata bhagavatam rasam alayam
muhur aho rasika bhuvi bhavukah
‘““O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhdgavatam, the mature
fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of
Sri Sukadeva Goswami. Therefore this fruit has become even more
tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, includ-
ing liberated souls.”’ [Srimad-Bhdagavatam 1.1.3]

It is said that Maharaja Pariksit attained salvation simply by hearing,
and similarly Sukadeva Goswami attained salvation simply by chanting.
In our devotional service there are nine different methods for achieving
the same goal, love of Godhead, and the first process is hearing. This
hearing process is called sruti. The next process is chanting. The chanting
process is smrti. We accept both sruti and smrti simultaneously. We con-
sider srutithe mother and smrtithe sister because a child hears from the
mother and then again learns from the sister by description.

Sruti and smrti are two parallel lines. Srila Ripa Goswami therefore
says:
