books not needed in the past

This is the injunction of the sastra. Idam hi pumsas tapasaḥ srutasya va. In the material world, everyone, at least the higher class, higher section of the society, they are engaged in so many research work. That is called tapasya. How to find out the best thing for the human, benefit of the human society, scientific research, that is also tapasya. When a scientist invents something, that is result of tapasya. It is not very easily obtained. Therefore tapa..., so many people are engaged in tapasya. Idam hi pumsas tapasaḥ srutasya. So many people are engaged in education. Srutasya. Srutasya means "of education." The Vedic process of getting education is by hearing. Therefore it is called sruti. The Vedas are called sruti. Formerly... Just like we are reading books. The books were not needed because the memory was so sharp-simply by hearing from the teacher, they'll remember. That is... That is called tradition by hearing. Therefore education means sruti. Srutibhir pratipannam. Anything, if you want to prove, then you have to give evidence from the sruti. Then it is...    (More...)