SECTION THIRTEEN

 The Prabhäsa Khaëòa of the Skanda Puräëa states therefore:

Previously, Lord Brahma, the grandfather of the demigods, performed severe penances and thereafter the Vedas appeared along with their Pada and Krama texts and their six limbs. Then the unchanging complete Puräëa, the embodiment of all scriptures, composed of eternal sound, sacred in nature, and consisting of one billion verses emanated from the mouth of Lord Brahma. Know that of the various divisions of that Puräëa the Brahma Puräëa is the first... (Sk.P. 2.3-5)

            The figure "one billion verses" is mentioned here because that is the number of verses existing on Brahmaloka. The Çrémad Bhägavatam, Third Canto,  states, "Maitreya said, 'Beginning from the front face of Brahmä,  in order the four Vedas--Åk, Yajur, Säma, and Atharva--became manifest". (SB. 3.12.37)

            And later on, "Then he created the fifth Veda--the Itihäsas and Puräëas--from his mouths, since he could see the past, present and future". (SB. 3.12.39) Moreover, the word "Veda" has been used here for the Itihäsas and Puräëas.

            Elsewhere it is said: "The Puräëas are the fifth Veda"; "The Itihäsas and Puräëas are called the fifth Veda". (SB. 1.4.20)

"He taught the Vedas along with the fifth Veda, the Mahabhärata", (M.Bh. Mokñadharma 340.21).

            If the Itihäsas and Puräëas were not Vedic then to group them as the fifth Veda in the preceeding verses would be highly improper, since only objects of the same kind are grouped together. Also, the Bhaviñya Puräëa states, "The Mahäbhärata is called the fifth Veda of Çré Kåñëa Dvaipäyana Vyäsa".*

            A reference is found in the Chändogya Upaniñad of the Kauthuméya branch of the Sämaveda (7.1.2), "O venerable Sir, I studied the Åg, Yajur, Säma, and Atharva Veda as well as the Itihäsas and Puräëas, which are the fifth Veda". Therefore, the well-known objection, that the Itihäsas and Puräëas listed in the Båhadäraëyakopaniñad 2.4.10 are included in the four Vedas and have no separate existence, is refuted. The Skanda Puräëa states, "The Brahma Puräëa is the first..."(as quoted previously).

 ÇRÉ JÉVA TOÑAËÉ COMMENTARY

             Here Çréla Jéva Gosvämé substantiates the statement from the Båhadäraëyakopaniñad (2.4.10) which establish the vedic nature of the Itihäsas and Puräëas by giving more evidence from the Puräëas, Itihäsas, and Upaniñads. From these references the following is clear: 1. The Puräëas and Itihäsas have the same source as the four Vedas. 2. They are apauruñeya in nature. 3. They are in the same category as the Vedas and are in fact the fifth Veda.

            Çréla Jéva Gosvämé here refers to a famous objection that the Itihäsas and Puräëas are part of the four Vedas. While explaining verse 2.4.10 of the Båhadäraëyakopaniñad some followers of the mimäàsaka school hold that the words Itihäsa and Puräëa refer to the historical passages found in some of the Vedas and not to separate works. For example, these çruti statements, yato vä imäni bhutäni jayante, "From him these beings take birth etc.,"; saù brahmaëä såjati rudreëa viläpayati harirädiranädiù, "He creates through Brahmä, destroys through Rudra, but Lord Hari is the source of all and is beginningless Himself etc." are all referred to as "Puräëa" since they pertain to creation and destruction, which is part of the subject matter of the Puräëas.

            They further argue that over an immense period of time many of these portions of the Vedas were lost and the available parts were difficult to understand. Therefore, as stated in Çrémad Bhägavatam 1.4.25, out of mercy Çréla Vyäsa wrote the Itihäsas and Puräëas for the benefit of less-intelligent people in Kali-yuga. Hence the Itihäsa and Puräëas under discussion are part of the Vedas and not independent books hence it is incorrect to conclude that they are the fifth Veda.

            Çréla Jéva Gosvämé refutes this with references from the Vedas, as well as from the Itihäsas and Puräëas themselves, to establish their rightful position as the fifth Veda, having emanated independently from the mouth of Lord Brahmä.  If they were only parts within the Vedas then there was no need to call them the fifth Veda in the references cited. In addition, the Saàhitäs, Brähmaëas, Äraëyakas, Upaniñads, Kalpasütras, Dharmasütras, Gåhya Sütras, Puräëas, Itihäsas, and other småti texts have many references about the Itihäsas and Puräëas being apauruñeya and Vedic in nature. Except for the last three the rest are all different portions of the original four Vedas. Some of these references are:  

            "The Åg, Säma, Yajur, and Atharvaveda, along with the Puräëas, and all the demigods residing in the heavenly planets appeared from the Supreme Lord." (Atharvaveda 11.7.24)  

            "He moved favorably towards Brhati and thus the Itihäsas, Puräëas, Gäthäs, and Näräçaàsé became favorable to him. One who knows this verily becomes the dear abode of the Itihäsas and Puräëas, Gäthas and Näräsaàsé". (Atharva 15.6.10,12)          

            "In this way all the Vedas became manifest along with the Kalpas, Rahasyas, Brähmaëas, Upaniñads, Itihäsas, Anväkhyatas and Puräëas". (Gopath Brähmaëa Purva 2.10) 

            "Indeed Åg, Yajur, Säma, and Atharva are the names of the four Vedas. The Itihäsas and Puräëas are the fifth Veda." (Ch. U. 7.1.4) 

            "One who studies thoroughly the Vedas along with it's six limbs and the Itihäsas and Puräëas becomes a true knower of the Veda. (Vyäsasmåti 4.45)

            In the next anuccheda Çréla Jéva Gosvämé explains why the Itihäsas and Puräëas are counted as the fifth Veda.