Text 7] Questions by the Sages 63

from the above mentioned vices. He should not only be freed from all such
vices, but he must also be well versed in all revealed scriptures or in the
Vedas. The Puranas are also parts of the Vedas. And histories like the
Mahabharata or Ramayana are also parts of the Vedas. The dcarya or the
gosvami must be well acquainted with all these literatures. To hear and
explain them is more important than reading them. One can only assimi-
late the knowledge of the revealed scriptures by hearing and explaining.
Hearing is called sravana, and explaining is called kirtana. The two
processes of Sravana and kirtana are of primary importance to progressive
spiritual life. Only one who has properly grasped the transcendental
knowledge from the right source by submissive hearing can properly
explain the subject.

TEXT 7

att Fafaat AT ATA ATAPI: |
HA YW TAT BA Taree faz: Wot

ydni veda-vidam srestho
bhagavan badardyanah

anye ca munayah sitta
paravara-vido viduh

yani—all that; veda-vidam—scholars of the Vedas; sresthah—seniormost;
bhagavan—incarnation of Godhead; badarayanah—V yasadeva;anye—others;
ca—and; munayah—the sages; siita—O Sita Gosvami: paravara-vidah—
amongst the learned scholars, one who is conversant with physical and
metaphysical knowledge; viduh—one who knows.

TRANSLATION

Being the eldest learned Vedantist, O Sita Gosvami, you are acquainted
with the knowledge of Vyasadeva, who is the incarnation of Godhead,
and you also know other sages who are fully versed in all kinds of physical
and metaphysical knowledge.

PURPORT

Srimad-Bhégavatam is a natural commentation on the Brahma-siitra or
the Badardyana Veddnta-sitras. It is called natural because Vyasadeva is
