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III - Veda is another means of knowledge that is available (cont)

While the knowledge is thus passed down the generations in every cycle of manifestation, Bhagavän Kåñëa in Bhagavadgétä (4.2) [43] talks of times when the knowledge declines. Çaìkaräcärya explains that the wane of the knowledge is owing to the rise of desire in the minds of people, which makes them pursue improper goals. Bhagavän [44].then takes avatära (descent to earth) to redeem the situation. Bhagavän Kåñëa is one such avatära and his teaching of Gétä to humanity through Arjuna is for resuscitation of atmajïäna and for the inculcation of values in living.

The sampradäya is also enlivened at critical times through persons born specifically to discharge special duties [45]. The seer Apäntaratamas was born in this manner as Kåñëa Dvaipäyana [46]. He compiles the voluminous Veda into four parts so that particular families could study one of them and hand it over to each succeeding generation. This earns him the name of Vedavyäsa or Vyäsäcärya. He also condenses the traditionally ascertained knowledge of Vedänta into aphorisms or sütras called the Brahmasütra. He also writes the epic Mahäbhärata and the Puräëas so that this knowledge may reach the laypersons as well [47]. 

Upaniñads, Bhagavadgétä and Brahmasütra are the three basic source books of Vedänta and are called prasthänatrayé. [48]. Upaniñad, which is revealed knowledge, is called çruti. [49] Brahmasütra and Bhagavadgétä (which is part of Mahäbhärata) are authored by Vyäsäcärya and are called småti or knowledge remembered by humans. In the case of doubt arising out of any statement in the småti, it is the vision of the çruti that clarifies.

The transmission of Veda is oral and it is ensured that during such transmission, the text does not suffer any corruption. The oral tradition is very sophisticated, consisting of manifold methods of combination of words for chanting [50] and through the science of pronunciation and euphony (çikñä).

IV - Vedanta is the means for self-knowledge

Reverting to the subject of the means of acquiring self-knowledge, we have to first consider as to how Vedänta, which reveals self-knowledge is considered as a pramäëa, that is, as an independent source of reliable knowledge. A pramäëa is that which

 . provides the knowledge that can be obtained only through it and not by any other pramäëa;
 . conveys what is not opposed to the evidence of any other pramäëa; and
 . conveys what is free from doubt and what is useful. [51]

Vedänta fulfils all these requirements. The knowledge revealed by it about the self cannot be known through any other means of knowledge like perception. Since other means of knowledge have no access to the self to know it, they cannot negate, amend or confirm Vedänta. Vedänta is also free from human errors, as it is revealed knowledge and is not the result of the working of the human intellect. It is free from doubt, as its central theme that we are the whole is stated in unequivocal terms. It is the most useful knowledge, as it removes self-ignorance, which is the cause of our sense of inadequacy, insecurity and unhappiness.

43.Sa käleneha mahatä yogo nañöaù, parantapa ...|Bhagavadgétä, 4.2.
44.Bhagavän is the one who has bhaga (bhagah asya asti iti bhagavän). Bhaga means the six-fold virtues of jñäna (knowledge), vairägya(dispassion), vérya  (ability to manifest, sustain and resolve), yaças (fame), çré (wealth) and aiçvarya  (overlordship). Bhagavän is also referred to as Éçvara.
45. They are called ädhikärika puruñas. (Brahmasütra 3.3.32.).
46. He is also known as Bädaräyaëa.
47.Purä api navaù is puräëa. It means ancient but evergreen. They are generally in the form of poetry with occasional prose dealing with devatäs, dharma, cosmology, art and dynasties of kings before the historical period. They provide role models in the ancient context and they continue to have the same significance even today.
48.Vedänta is called sruti-prasthäna;Bhagavadgétä is called småti-prasthäna; Brahmasütra is called nyäya-prasthäna (nyäya means logic).
49. Åñibhiù çrüyate iti çrutiù| What is revealed through the åñi is çruti.
50.The method of combination of words for chanting to preserve the text without mistakes are prakåti päöha consisting of words in succession and vikåti päöha consisting of words in progression followed by reversing a word at a time. The three types of prakåti päöha are väkya päöha, pada päöhaand krama päöha. The eight types of vikåti päöha are jaöä, mälä, çikhä, rekhä, dhvaja, daëḍa, ratha and ghana.
51. Anadhigata(unknown), abädhita (uncontradicted), phalavat (useful). artha bodhakam (communicating knowledge) väkyam pramäëam.
  The anadhigata knowledge of karma-käëḍa is of three types: unknown means for known ends like putrakämeñöi ritual for gaining progeny, known means for unknown ends like doing charity for puëya and unknown means for unknown ends like jyotiñöomaritual for reaching the higher world. Anadhigata knowledge in jñäna-käëḍa is the correct knowledge of the self.

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