Prabhupāda: Śruti-smṛti-purāṇadi-pāñcarātriki-vidhiṁ vina (Brs. 1.2.101). Any system we accept, it must be supported by the evidences of śruti-smṛti-purāṇadi-pāñcarātriki. Aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyai . . . anything which is not supported by śruti-smṛti . . . just like Manu-smṛti. This is smṛti. And Vedas are śruti. Śruti-smṛti-purāṇadi pāñcarātriki-vi . . . aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyaiva kalpate. Which is not evidence, which is not true by these pramāṇas, then it is disturbance. That is . . .
Guest: But I mean to say one thing is, like in Vedas, whatever is written could have been proved like in a scientific way, today . . . Suppose there is a lab which is scientific. Whatever is said by that lab, that "This is truth," accepted without going to argue to the propriety of it . . . Suppose you have a scientific knowledge shop or a place, and if this workshop or this scientific institution states, "This is not good. This is not good," a general body accepts, take it for granted, "Yes, scientific body has said so. It is understood. It's . . ."
Prof. Kotovsky: Hmm. Yes.
Prabhupāda: Personally he hasn't got to examine, himself. He takes the statement of an authority and believes him.
Guest: Common person, a common . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: So Vedic authorities, authoritative statement, are accepted by the ācāryas. Just like India is governed by the ācāryas, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya and Śaṅkarācārya. They accept in that, and the followers accept them. The benefit is that whether cow dung is pure or impure, I do not waste my time, but because it is stated in the Vedas, I take it, so I save my time. Śruti-pramāṇa. In that way there are different statements in the Vedas for sociology and politics and anything, because Vedas means knowledge. Vedas means knowledge. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam (BG 15.15). Vetti veda vido jñāne. Vid-dhātu, when it is used for knowledge, it is called Veda.
Guest: But today, I think, the scientific knowledge, people will not accept all this, what you are saying only. They would perhaps like to try it once more, and perhaps, after going through the process of examination of theirs, they accept it if it is true.
Prof. Kotovsky: Yes, well, right. As I have already said, our approach, the approach of people today, new era of knowledge everywhere in the world . . .
Guest: Try once more.
Prof. Kotovsky: Try once more. You are right. And also nobody would believe in anything without argument.
Prabhupāda: No, arguments are allowed.