The Origin of Knowledge (Veda) According to Shri Bhattapad, the knowledge required for universal welfare, which cannot be obtained through direct perception or inference, is exclusively provided by the Vedas. Humanity seeks solutions to all problems within them.
भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च सर्वं वेदात् प्रसिद्धयति । सर्वं ज्ञानमयो हि वेदः ।
यस्य निःश्वसितं वेदा यो वेदेभ्योऽखिलं जगत् ।
The Vedas are the exhalation of the Supreme Lord, from which the entire universe was formed. The Veda is eternal, infinite, and 'Apaurusheya' (not created by man). The great sages realized this cosmic speech through deep penance and are known as Mantra-Drashtas (Seers of Mantras). The Rigveda describes four levels of speech: Para (the supreme origin), Pashyanti (the realized vision of sages), Madhyama (the subtle form), and Vaikhari (the physical speech used by common people). The Essence of Yagna p>
ॐ अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् । होतारं रत्नधातमम् ।। (Rigveda 1.1.1)
तस्मात् सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् । (Gita 3-15)
The all-pervading Brahman is eternally established in Yagna.
Yagna is the soul of all beings and deities, the core holding the earth together, and the eternal law of the universe (Ritam Vai Satyam Yagnah). It is inherently non-violent (Adhvara), massive, pervasive, and performed strictly for universal welfare to express gratitude to the Creator.
The Divine Boat (Daivi Nauka) Sages conceptualized Yagna as a divine boat to cross the ocean of Samsara (material existence). Boarding this boat means shifting from destruction to construction, abandoning sin for merit, sacrificing selfishness for altruism, suppressing distortion to refine purity, and moving from the individual (Vyashti) to the collective (Samashti). It perfectly balances Knowledge (Veda), Action (Ahuti), and Devotion (Namah).