Śruti and smṛti. Śruti means Vedic literature, which is traditionally, from time immemorial, it is learned simply by hearing from authoritative sources. Just like in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the First Canto, first verse, it is said, tene brahma hṛdā Adi-kavaye (SB 1.1.1). The original authority of Vedic literature, Lord Brahmā, he was instructed about Vedic knowledge by Lord Kṛṣṇa. And he imparted Vedic knowledge to the world. So he was the first creature, living creature, after creation. So there was nobody to give him initiation, because he is the only living creature at that time. So the Lord Himself initiated.
How He initiated? Hṛdā, through the heart. Because He is situated in everyone's heart. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati (BG 18.61). He is . . . the Lord is seated in everyone's heart. So he initiated. Tene brahma hṛdā. Hṛdā means "through the heart." And that is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā, that buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam: "I give instruction, buddhi-yogam, the yoga principle of intelligence, or bhakti-yoga." Whom? Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam (BG 10.10): One who is engaged with love and affection in devotional service, to him He gives instruction. Not to all. Samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu (BG 9.29). God is equal to everyone.
That is a fact. So far eating, sleeping, mating, these four principles are concerned, God is giving everyone. Just like government provides maintenance, provision, even in the prison life. That is not very important thing for government. But education department or other higher cultural department, that is not for all. Similarly, although God is equal to everyone, he's especially inclined to the devotees. Ye tu bhajanti māṁ prītyā teṣu te mayi (BG 9.29).
Those who are engaged in devotional service, He's specially inclined to him. And to him He gives instruction from within. Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānām (BG 10.10). Satata means always. Twenty-four hours, one who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to him He gives instruction from within, because he's qualified. Others, instruction He's giving, but other is not obeying the instruction.
Just like a man is ready to commit some sinful activities. He thinks, "Shall I do it?" From within, "N,. don't do it." Again he says, "Why not? Let me do it." In this way, when he insists, oh, then He says: "All right, do it. Do it." So the word that, "Nothing can happen without the sanction of God," that is a fact. Nobody can act anything . . . then the question is why a man acts sinfully? So why does God give sanction for sinful action? Yes. When one insists that, "I shall do it," "All right, do it. And suffer the consequences."
So this purification process, according to Vaiṣṇava smṛti, ādau gurvāśrayaṁ tato sad-dharma-pṛcchāt sādhu mārgāṇugamanam (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.74). In the beginning one has to accept a spiritual master, bona fide spiritual master. And who is bona fide spiritual master? That is also described in several Vedic scripture. In the Upaniṣad it is said, śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham (MU 1.2.12): One who has come down in disciplic succession and as a result of such authorized succession one has become fully, firmly convinced in Brahman. Brahman, Paramātmā, Bhagavān, the same thing. Brahma-niṣṭham. He is transcendentally situated. So these things are there.
And in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also it is said that who requires a spiritual master. That is also said. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta (SB 11.3.21). One . . . let one surrender himself unto the spiritual master. Who is that one? Jijñāsuḥ. One who is inquisitive. What about inquisitiveness? Jijñā . . . śreya uttamam. The highest perfectional stage of life. If one is inclined what is transcendental life, what is spiritual life, what is perfection of life, if one is inclined to this subject matter, for him there is necessity of approaching a bona fide spiritual master.