Vyasadeva adapted Vedic knowledge for degraded ages; Krishna consciousness cleanses the heart to reveal God.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Temple Opening — May 9, 1969, Columbus 690509TO-COLUMBUS [22:08 Minutes] Temple Opening_690509TO-COLUMBUS Prabhupāda: So Vyāsadeva, the author of Vedic literature… Formerly there was only one Vedic literature, known as Atharva Veda. In the Atharva Veda Kṛṣṇa’s name is there, and He is described as the son of Devakī. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has quoted from Atharva Veda in his commentary on Brahma-saṁhitā. So Atharva Veda is the original Veda. Then Vyāsadeva, before the beginning of this age, Kali-yuga… This Kali-yuga is considered to be very much contaminated age.
Three-fourth part of the population, they are all impious in this age, and officially one-fourth part of the population they are pious, but that is also dwindling, the influence of this age is so strong. So in order to favor the people of this age, Vyāsadeva divided the original Atharva Veda into four parts, four divisions: Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda, Ṛg Veda, Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda. Then he explained the Vedas by Purāṇas, eighteen Purāṇas. Then he summarized the purpose of Vedas in historical form. Taking the advantage of the battle of Kurukṣetra, he gave to the less intelligent class of men.
It is stated, strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnāṁ [SB 1.4.25]. [Out of compassion, the great sage thought it wise that this would enable men to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus he compiled the great historical narration called the Mahābhārata for women, laborers and friends of the twice-born.] Strī means “women,” and śūdra means “worker class men.”Strī-śūdra and dvijabandhu. Dvijabandhu means those who are born in high family, like brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya and vaiśyas, but they are not actually qualified for that high position. Just like in India there are many so-called brāhmaṇas—simply by name brāhmaṇa; they have no qualification—they are called dvijabandhu. So this Mahābhārata history was specially meant for these classes: woman, worker class and this dvijabandhu class, or the so-called brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas.
But still if you read Mahābhārata you will find that it is difficult even for the greatest scholar of this age. Just like Bhagavad-gītā. Bhagavad-gītā is set up in the Mahābhārata, and originally it was meant for the less-intelligent class of men. So you can just try to understand what class of men existed in those days. Actually it is so.
Bhagavad-gītā is such nice philosophical spiritual treatise, whilst taught to Arjuna in the battlefield. So in the battlefield how much time he could spare? And at the point he was going to fight, he thought, “Oh, why shall I fight?” So some instruction was given by Kṛṣṇa—you can imagine, utmost half an hour or at most one hour He talked—and he understood the whole Bhagavad-gītā. So what class of man was Arjuna? The same Bhagavad-gītā even big scholars of this age, they cannot understand.
And Arjuna understood it within half an hour, so we can imagine what class of men were at that time present. Though although Arjuna was not a brāhmaṇa, he was a military man. A military man is not expected to be very scholarly. He knows his own war. [aside: Come on.] In this way, Vedas were distributed in several forms and divisions so that people could take advantage.
That was the purpose. Formerly, Vedas, they are not in written language. They are called śruti. Śruti means the student should simply learn the Vedic knowledge simply by hearing. There is no need of noting down or cramming.