106 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 13

have learned by hearing from authorities. I cannot remain silent in
this regard, for a personality like you is just fit to be spoken to by
one who desires self-purification.

PURPORT

A saintly person doesn’t wish to speak to anyone and everyone, and he
is therefore grave and silent. Generally a common man does not need to
be advised. Unless one is prepared to take instructions, it is said that a
saintly person should not address him, although sometimes, because of
great kindness, a saintly person speaks to ordinary men. As for Prahlada
Maharaja, however, since he was not a common, ordinary man, whatever
questions he posed would have to be answered, even by a great and ex-
alted personality. Therefore the saintly brahmana did not remain silent,
but began to answer. These answers, however, were not concocted by
him. This is indicated by the words yathd-srutam, meaning “as I have
heard from the authorities.” In the parampara system, when the ques-
tions are bona fide the answers are bona fide. No one should attempt to
create or manufacture answers. One must refer to the sdstras and give
answers according to Vedic understanding. The words yatha-srutam
refer to Vedic knowledge. The Vedas are known as Sruti because this
knowledge is received from authorities. The statements of the Vedas are
known as Sruti-pramana. One should quote evidence from the sruti—
the Vedas or Vedic literature—and then one’s statements will be correct.
Otherwise one’s words will proceed from mental concoction.

TEXT 24

TUN Aas sea: acer |
Sar SPANSE ATTA TATA? NBII

trsnaya bhava-vahinya
yogyaih kamair apiiryaya

karmani kdryamano "ham
nand-yonisu yojitah

trsnaya—because of material desires; bhava-vahinya—under the
sway of the material laws of nature; yogyaih—as it is befitting;
