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Vedic knowledge is called śabda-pramāṇa. Another name is śruti. Śruti means that this knowledge has to be received simply by aural reception. Transcendental knowledge is knowledge from beyond this universe. Within this universe is material knowledge, and beyond this universe is transcendental knowledge. Thus to acquire full knowledge is impossible.

The Vedas are not compilations of human knowledge. Vedic knowledge comes from the spiritual world, from Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śruti refers to that knowledge which is acquired by hearing. It is not experimental knowledge. We take so much knowledge from our mother. Similarly, if you want to know something beyond your experience, beyond your experimental knowledge,

is called the grandfather, the forefather, because he was the first to be instructed in the Vedic knowledge In this way, the Vedic knowledge comes down by disciplic succession. It is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā that Vedic knowledge is understood in this way. Then there is anumāna, inductive knowledge: “It may be like this” – hypothesis. But if you receive the knowledge from the authoritative sources, that is perfect.

Veda means knowledge. Any knowledge you accept is veda, for the teachings of the Vedas are the original knowledge. In the conditioned state, our knowledge is subjected to many deficiencies.

All this knowledge is there, but how will you make experiments? It is not possible. This is called Vedic knowledge. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we are accepting knowledge from the highest authority, Kṛṣṇa. That is Vedic knowledge. Since the Vedic knowledge is pure, we accept it. If you accept the right authority, or source of knowledge, then you save much time.

Vedānta means “ultimate knowledge,” and the ultimate knowledge is Kṛṣṇa. We develop our consciousness and knowledge by receiving knowledge from others, but for Him it is said The whole summary of Vedic knowledge is the Vedānta-sūtra, and the Vedānta-sūtra is explained by the We finally request those who are actually after Vedic knowledge to try to understand the explanation of all Vedic knowledge from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā.

We cannot, therefore, expect knowledge (veda) with these imperfect senses. With all these deficiencies, in conditioned life we cannot give perfect knowledge to anyone.

“Therefore, let me teach this Vedic knowledge in writing.” Then Vyāsadeva summarized all Vedic knowledge for scholars and philosophers in what is called the Vedānta-sūtra