204 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 4

TRANSLATION

We know that you are expert in the meaning of all subjects, except some
portions of the Vedas, and thus you can clearly explain the answers to
all the questions we have just put to you.

PURPORT

The difference between the Vedas and the Puranas is like that between
the brahmanas and the purivrajakas. The brahmanas are meant to administer
some fruitive sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas, but the parivrajakdacaryas,
or learned preachers, are meant to disseminate transcendental knowledge
to one and all. As such, the parivrajakdcaryas are not always expert in
pronouncing the Vedic mantras, which are practiced systematically by
accent and meter by the brahmanas who are meant for administering Vedic
rites. Yet it should not be considered that the brahmanas are more
important than the itinerant preachers. They are one and different
simultaneously because they are meant for the same end, in different
ways.

There is no difference also between the Vedic mantras and what is
explained in the Puranas and Itihdsa. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, it is
mentioned in the Mddhyandina-sruti that all the Vedas, namely the
Sama, Atharva, Rk, Yajus, Puranas, Itihdsas, Upanisads, etc., are emanations
from the breathing of the Supreme Being. The only difference is that the
Vedic mantras are mostly begun with pranava omkara, and it requires some
training to practice the metric pronunciation of the Vedic mantras. But
that does not mean that Srimad-Bhdgavatam was of less importance than
the Vedic mantras. On the other hand, it is the ripened fruit of all the
Vedas, as stated before. Besides that, the most perfectly liberated soul,
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, is absorbed in the studies of the Bhagavatam,
although He is already self-realized. Srila Sita Gosvami is following his
footsteps, and therefore his position is not the least less important because
he was not expert in chanting Vedic mantras with metric pronunciation,
which depends more on practice than actual realization. Realization is
more important than parrot-like chanting.

TEXT 14

ad sara
at aa TdT TTA |
AA: TATA WAST HeAT TT UII
