Passage 21

In English

The Vedas demonstrate and establish the all-knowing aspect of Brahman and that everyone has the right to study Vedas. There is some amount of lack of knowledge and misconception in thinking that only some class of people can study the Vedas. We were told that the Pandavas had studied the Vedas and that they had full acquaintance with the Vedas. This is told to us in the Mahabharatha. In the Ramayana, while Dasaratha was performing Aswamedha yaga (Horse sacrifice) he was advised by Vashishta to invite King Janaka who was fully conversant with the Vedas. In the Bhagavatha also we know that Krishna himself was well versed in the Vedas. Further, when Valmiki completed composing his Ramayana and was looking for people to whom he could communicate this, Lava and Kusa (Rama’s sons) came running to him to learn this and Valmiki taught them all the Vedas. If we examine to what sect or class these individuals Lava, Kusa, the Pandavas, Rama, Krishna, etc. belonged, we come to the conclusion that everyone has the right to study and imbibe all that is contained in the Vedas. Because everyone has the right to study and put into practice the Vedas, the first thing that you have to do is to recognise the existence of such a right. Then you should be in a position to read and also communicate their contents to others. This is what I am hoping you will be able to achieve.