276 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 6
When one has actually become wise through the study of Vedic literature, he
surrenders unto Vasudeva, Bhagavan Sri Krsna. This is also confirmed in Srimad-
Bhagavatam (1.2.7-8):
vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyarh
jfidnarm ca yad ahaitukam
dharmah svanusthitah purhsam
visvaksena-kathadsu yah
notpddayed yadi ratirn
srama eva hi kevalam
Understanding Vasudeva is real knowledge. By engaging in the devotional service
of Vasudeva, Krsna, one acquires perfect knowledge and Vedic understanding.
Thus one becomes detached from the material world. This is the perfection of
human life. Although one may perfectly follow religious rituals and ceremonies,
he is simply wasting his time (srama eva hi kevalam) if he does not attain this per-
fection.

Before the creation of the cosmic manifestation, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead possessed His totally transcendental mind and eyes. That Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead is Krsna. A person may think that there is no direct statement
about Krsna in the Upanisads, but the fact is that the Vedic mantras cannot be
understood by people with mundane senses. As stated in the Padma Purana, atah
sri krsna namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih: a person with mundane senses
cannot fully understand the name, qualities, form and pastimes of Sti Krsna. The
Puranas are therefore meant to explain and supplement Vedic knowledge. The
great sages present the Purdnas in order to make the Vedic mantras understand-
able for common men (stri-stidra-dvija-bandhinam). Considering that women,
sddras and dvija-bandhus (unworthy sons of the twice-born) cannot understand
the Vedic hymns directly, Srila Vyasadeva compiled Mahabharata. Actually the
Supreme Personality of Godhead is vedesu durlabham (untraceable in the Vedas),
but when the Vedas are properly understood or when Vedic knowledge is
received from devotees, one can understand that all Vedic knowledge leads to Sri
Krsna.

The Brahma-stitra (1.1.3) confirms this fact also: sastra- yonitvat. Commenting
upon this Brahma-stitra code (sastra-yonitvat), Sri Madhvacarya says: “The Rg
Veda, Yajur Veda, Sdma Veda, Atharva Veda, Mahabharata, Paficaratra and the
original Valmiki Ramayana are all Vedic literature. Any literature following the con-
clusive statements of this Vedic literature is also to be considered Vedic literature.
That literature which does not conform to Vedic literature is simply misleading.”
