Actually, Vedas are the original scripture. Gradually many other scriptures have developed. They are called smṛti. Śruti smṛti.
- śruti-smṛti-purāṇadi-
- pāṣcarātriki vidhiṁ vinā
- aikāntikī harer bhaktir
- utpātāyaiva kalpate
- (Brs. 1.2.101)
This is the definition given by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, that to become a devotee of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa, one has to follow the principles of śruti and smṛti, and pāṣcarātriki-vidhi. Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, there is no Vedic vidhi, because Vedic vidhi is lost. Formerly, initiation was offered to a person who is actually born of a brahmin father. Otherwise . . . or the higher caste, the brahmins, the kṣatriyas and the vaiśyas, they were offered initiation, and the śūdras were not offered. That was the Vedic system.
But in this age the śāstra says that kalau śūdra sambhava. In this age of Kali practically there is no more any brahmin, kṣatriya or vaiśya. Maybe by name, but in qualification they are not existing. Everyone is supposed to be śūdra. So in Kali-yuga the pāṣcarātriki-vidhi is accepted. This pāṣcarātriki-vidhi is also Vedic vidhi, corollary, given by Nārada Mahāmuni. But it is accepted by the Vedic followers, pāṣcarātriki-vidhi.
Pāṣcarātriki-vidhi means if anyone has a little inclination for spiritual development, he should be given chance. This initiation means to give chance. The Bhāgavata says that kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18).
These are the list of the caṇḍālas, or less than the śūdras. So Bhāgavata gives open road for everyone. Even one is kirāta . . . kirāta means . . . generally they are called aborigines, or the very black aborigines living in the jungles, they are called kirāta. In our country it is called hantā(?). So anyway, Hun, Hun, a class of people in the hill side of north Arctic zone, they are called Huns. So kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā . . . there are very great list of the caṇḍālas, less than the śūdras.
The Bhāgavata says ye 'nye ca pāpā, not these classes, even less than them, even they are born in the family of sinful tribe, they can be also purified. Śudhyanti: they can be also purified. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ, ye 'nye ca pāpā . . . ye 'nye ca pāpā śudhyanti (SB 2.4.18). They can be purified by association of Vaiṣṇava. Ye 'nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ. Upāśraya means just like a person who is a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, and if anyone takes shelter of such devotee, he can be purified. This is called paramparā system.