SB 1.2.28-29

वासुदेवपरा वेदा वासुदेवपरा मखाः ।
वासुदेवपरा योग वासुदेवपराः क्रियाः ॥२८॥
वासुदेवपरं ज्ञानं वासुदेवपरं तपः ।
वासुदेवपरो धर्मो वासुदेवपरा गतिः ॥२९॥

vāsudeva-parā vedā
vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ
vāsudeva-parā yogā
vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ

vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ
vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ
vāsudeva-paro dharmo
vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ

vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; parāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparah

a supreme or superior; an enemy; another (friend or enemy); beyond; beyond this material creation; comes as an enemy; different; differentiated parts; great; more; next life; not belonging to the same group or family; of the demigods; other; others; sublime; superior; superior quality; supreme; the best; the chief; the supermost; the supreme; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme, than whom no one is greater; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental or different; transcendental to material conditions; transcendental to material contamination; transcendental, beyond everything material; ultimate goal; unconnected; who is transcendental.—the ultimate goal; vedāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvedah

book of transcendental knowledge; the Vedas, books of knowledge; the Vedas; the original source of knowledge.—revealed scriptures; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; parāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparah

a supreme or superior; an enemy; another (friend or enemy); beyond; beyond this material creation; comes as an enemy; different; differentiated parts; great; more; next life; not belonging to the same group or family; of the demigods; other; others; sublime; superior; superior quality; supreme; the best; the chief; the supermost; the supreme; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme, than whom no one is greater; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental or different; transcendental to material conditions; transcendental to material contamination; transcendental, beyond everything material; ultimate goal; unconnected; who is transcendental.—for worshiping; makhāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmakhah

sacrifice; the sacrificial arena.—sacrifices; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; parāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparah

a supreme or superior; an enemy; another (friend or enemy); beyond; beyond this material creation; comes as an enemy; different; differentiated parts; great; more; next life; not belonging to the same group or family; of the demigods; other; others; sublime; superior; superior quality; supreme; the best; the chief; the supermost; the supreme; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme, than whom no one is greater; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental or different; transcendental to material conditions; transcendental to material contamination; transcendental, beyond everything material; ultimate goal; unconnected; who is transcendental.—the means of attaining; yogāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyogah

yoga; auspicious; concentration of mind; connection; connection by devotional service; in such practice; Kṛṣṇa consciousness; linking with the Supreme; mystic yoga; mystic yoga process; mysticism; practice of yoga; practice of yoga; self-realization; the yoga system; the power of mystic yoga; the process by which one can be linked with the Supreme; the process of control; the result of meditation; the science of yoga; the science of one's relationship with the Supreme.—mystic paraphernalia; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; parāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparah

a supreme or superior; an enemy; another (friend or enemy); beyond; beyond this material creation; comes as an enemy; different; differentiated parts; great; more; next life; not belonging to the same group or family; of the demigods; other; others; sublime; superior; superior quality; supreme; the best; the chief; the supermost; the supreme; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme, than whom no one is greater; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental or different; transcendental to material conditions; transcendental to material contamination; transcendental, beyond everything material; ultimate goal; unconnected; who is transcendental.—under His control; kriyāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkriyah

activities.—fruitive activities; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; paramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparam

above; absolute; after; after the initiation; afterwards; and afterward; another; as long as that of Lord Brahmā; as the ultimate goal of life; best; better means; beyond; beyond material nature; beyond that; but; but afterwards; distant; elevation to the heavenly planets or becoming one by merging into Brahman; enemies; far superior things; final; further supreme; Godhead; great; greater; greatest; heavy; higher; highest; liberation; merely; more supreme; most glorious; only; only or ultimately; only this earth; other; other thing; others; perfect; perfectly; sublime; superior; superior life; supreme; supreme, transcendental; that much only; the actual transcendental position; the best; the foremost; the goal of life; the greatest; the highest; the most exalted; the only means; the supreme; the supreme abode; the supreme knowledge (by which one can attain devotional service); the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the supreme whole; the transcendental world; the ultimate goal; to the transcendental spiritual kingdom; to the transcendental world; topmost; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental knowledge; transcendental to, beyond; transcendental world; ultimate; uncommon; under control; very great; very much; who are transcendental, beyond this material world; who is transcendental.—the supreme; jñānamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigjnanam

knowledge.—knowledge; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; paramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparam

above; absolute; after; after the initiation; afterwards; and afterward; another; as long as that of Lord Brahmā; as the ultimate goal of life; best; better means; beyond; beyond material nature; beyond that; but; but afterwards; distant; elevation to the heavenly planets or becoming one by merging into Brahman; enemies; far superior things; final; further supreme; Godhead; great; greater; greatest; heavy; higher; highest; liberation; merely; more supreme; most glorious; only; only or ultimately; only this earth; other; other thing; others; perfect; perfectly; sublime; superior; superior life; supreme; supreme, transcendental; that much only; the actual transcendental position; the best; the foremost; the goal of life; the greatest; the highest; the most exalted; the only means; the supreme; the supreme abode; the supreme knowledge (by which one can attain devotional service); the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the supreme whole; the transcendental world; the ultimate goal; to the transcendental spiritual kingdom; to the transcendental world; topmost; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental knowledge; transcendental to, beyond; transcendental world; ultimate; uncommon; under control; very great; very much; who are transcendental, beyond this material world; who is transcendental.—best; tapaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtapah

and austerities; austerities (such as observing fasts at least twice in a month on the day of Ekādaśī); austerities; austerities and penances; austerities like mental control, mystic yoga and meditation; austerity; austerity and penance; by austerities; by austerity; in austerity; of austerity; penance; penances; practice of austerities and penances; the austerity; the performers of austerities; the planetary system above the Janas; the regulative principles of austerity; the result of austerity; the Tapoloka planet; the Tapoloka planetary system; trueness to one's responsibility; with austerities.—austerity; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; paraḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparah

a supreme or superior; an enemy; another (friend or enemy); beyond; beyond this material creation; comes as an enemy; different; differentiated parts; great; more; next life; not belonging to the same group or family; of the demigods; other; others; sublime; superior; superior quality; supreme; the best; the chief; the supermost; the supreme; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme, than whom no one is greater; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental or different; transcendental to material conditions; transcendental to material contamination; transcendental, beyond everything material; ultimate goal; unconnected; who is transcendental.—superior quality; dharmaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigdharmah

a religious principle; a son known as Dharma; Dharma; duties to My husband; duty; engagement; execution of the system of varṇa and āśrama; is our duty; is the process; King Yudhiṣṭhira; nature; occupation; occupational duties; occupational duty; religion; religion personified; religiosity; religious activities; religious affiliation; religious principle; religious principles; religious ritual; religious rituals; such an occupation; system of religion; that religious process; the characteristics; the duty; the King of religion; the occupational duty; the particular occupational duty; the personality of religion; the personality of religious principles; the principle of religion; the real platform of religion, bhakti-yoga; the religious principles; the religious principles for executing the ritualistic ceremonies; two different types of religion; who accepts by religious performance; Yamarāja; Yamarāja or the Supersoul.—religion; vāsudevaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasudeva

the father of Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva.—the Personality of Godhead; parāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigparah

a supreme or superior; an enemy; another (friend or enemy); beyond; beyond this material creation; comes as an enemy; different; differentiated parts; great; more; next life; not belonging to the same group or family; of the demigods; other; others; sublime; superior; superior quality; supreme; the best; the chief; the supermost; the supreme; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme, than whom no one is greater; transcendence; transcendental; transcendental or different; transcendental to material conditions; transcendental to material contamination; transcendental, beyond everything material; ultimate goal; unconnected; who is transcendental.—ultimate; gatiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggatih

advancement; condition of life; course; destination; entrance; Gati; goal; goal of life; good rebirth; his progress; means; movement; movements; our destination; progress; progressive path; shelter; the goal; the motion; the movement; the path; the process of movement; the progress; the ultimate destination; the ultimate goal; the ultimate goal of life; the way; to enter into; to keep His step; whose movements.—goal of life. ¶

In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life. ¶

That Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, is the only object of worship is confirmed in these two ślokas. In the Vedic literature there is the same objective: establishing one’s relationship and ultimately reviving our lost loving service unto Him. That is the sum and substance of the Vedas. In the Bhagavad-gītā the same theory is confirmed by the Lord in His own words: the ultimate purpose of the Vedas is to know Him only. All the revealed scriptures are prepared by the Lord through His incarnation in the body of Śrīla Vyāsadeva just to remind the fallen souls, conditioned by material nature, of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. No demigod can award freedom from material bondage. That is the verdict of all the Vedic literatures. Impersonalists who have no information of the Personality of Godhead minimize the omnipotency of the Supreme Lord and put Him on equal footing with all other living beings, and for this act such impersonalists get freedom from material bondage only with great difficulty. They can surrender unto Him only after many, many births in the culture of transcendental knowledge. ¶

One may argue that the Vedic activities are based on sacrificial ceremonies. That is true. But all such sacrifices are also meant for realizing the truth about Vāsudeva. Another name of Vāsudeva is Yajña (sacrifice), and in the Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly stated that all sacrifices and all activities are to be conducted for the satisfaction of Yajña, or Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead. This is the case also with the yoga systems. Yoga means to get into touch with the Supreme Lord. The process, however, includes several bodily features such as āsana, dhyāna, prāṇāyāma and meditation, and all of them are meant for concentrating upon the localized aspect of Vāsudeva represented as Paramātmā. Paramātmā realization is but partial realization of Vāsudeva, and if one is successful in that attempt, one realizes Vāsudeva in full. But by ill luck most yogīs are stranded by the powers of mysticism achieved through the bodily process. Ill-fated yogīs are given a chance in the next birth by being placed in the families of good learned brāhmaṇas or in the families of rich merchants in order to execute the unfinished task of Vāsudeva realization. If such fortunate brāhmaṇas and sons of rich men properly utilize the chance, they can easily realize Vāsudeva by good association with saintly persons. Unfortunately, such preferred persons are captivated again by material wealth and honor, and thus they practically forget the aim of life. ¶

This is also so for the culture of knowledge. According to Bhagavad-gītā there are eighteen items in culturing knowledge. By such culture of knowledge one becomes gradually prideless, devoid of vanity, nonviolent, forbearing, simple, devoted to the great spiritual master, and self-controlled. By culture of knowledge one becomes unattached to hearth and home and becomes conscious of the miseries due to death, birth, old age and disease. And all culture of knowledge culminates in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. Therefore, Vāsudeva is the ultimate aim in culturing all different branches of knowledge. Culture of knowledge leading one to the transcendental plane of meeting Vāsudeva is real knowledge. Physical knowledge in its various branches is condemned in the Bhagavad-gītā as ajñāna, or the opposite of real knowledge. The ultimate aim of physical knowledge is to satisfy the senses, which means prolongation of the term of material existence and thereby continuance of the threefold miseries. So prolonging the miserable life of material existence is nescience. But the same physical knowledge leading to the way of spiritual understanding helps one to end the miserable life of physical existence and to begin the life of spiritual existence on the plane of Vāsudeva. ¶

The same applies to all kinds of austerities. Tapasya means voluntary acceptance of bodily pains to achieve some higher end of life. Rāvaṇa and Hiraṇyakaśipu underwent a severe type of bodily torture to achieve the end of sense gratification. Sometimes modern politicians also undergo severe types of austerities to achieve some political end. This is not actually tapasya. One should accept voluntary bodily inconvenience for the sake of knowing Vāsudeva because that is the way of real austerities. Otherwise all forms of austerities are classified as modes of passion and ignorance. passion and ignorance cannot end the miseries of life. Only the mode of goodness can mitigate the threefold miseries of life. Vasudeva and Devakī, the so-called father and mother of Lord Kṛṣṇa, underwent penances to get Vāsudeva as their son. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the father of all living beings (Bg. 14.4)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 14.4

It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kuntī, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.. Therefore He is the original living being of all other living beings. He is the original eternal enjoyer amongst all other enjoyers. Therefore no one can be His begetting father, as the ignorant may think. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa agreed to become the son of Vasudeva and Devakī upon being pleased with their severe austerities. Therefore if any austerities have to be done, they must be done to achieve the end of knowledge, Vāsudeva. ¶

Vāsudeva is the original Personality of Godhead Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. As explained before, the original Personality of Godhead expands Himself by innumerable forms. Such expansion of forms is made possible by His various energies. His energies are also multifarious, and His internal energies are superior and external energies inferior in quality. They are explained in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.4-6) as the parā and the aparā prakṛtis. So His expansions of various forms which take place via the internal energies are superior forms, whereas the expansions which take place via the external energies are inferior forms. The living entities are also His expansions. The living entities who are expanded by His internal potency are eternally liberated persons, whereas those who are expanded in terms of the material energies are eternally conditioned souls. Therefore, all culture of knowledge, austerities, sacrifice and activities should be aimed at changing the quality of the influence that is acting upon us. For the present, we are all being controlled by the external energy of the Lord, and just to change the quality of the influence, we must endeavor to cultivate spiritual energy. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said that those who are mahātmās, or those whose minds have been so broadened as to be engaged in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, are under the influence of the internal potency, and the effect is that such broadminded living beings are constantly engaged in the service of the Lord without deviation. That should be the aim of life. And that is the verdict of all the Vedic literatures. No one should bother himself with fruitive activities or dry speculation about transcendental knowledge. Everyone should at once engage himself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Nor should one worship different demigods who work as different hands of the Lord for creation, maintenance or destruction of the material world. There are innumerable powerful demigods who look over the external management of the material world. They are all different assisting hands of Lord Vāsudeva. Even Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā are included in the list of demigods, but Lord Viṣṇu, or Vāsudeva, is always transcendentally situated. Even though He accepts the quality of goodness of the material world, He is still transcendental to all the material modes. The following example will clear that matter more explicitly. In the prison house there are the prisoners and the managers of the prison house. Both the managers and the prisoners are bound by the laws of the king. But even though the king sometimes comes in the prison, he is not bound by the laws of the prison house. The king is therefore always transcendental to the laws of the prison house, as the Lord is always transcendental to the laws of the material world. ¶