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It is therefore that Yaska in his Nirukta defines Rshi as one who has vision of Mantras ).
That alone is the vision of Mantras which is obtained by Rshis as described obove: It has to be born of inspiration. It is the result of creative effort of the highest order. It has to be direct and true to inner experience and it is to pertain to the truth which is normally beyond the senses. It is that knowledge which is designated as Veda. That is true knowledge issuing out of inner experience, which takes the form of spiritually inspired pure expression without any effort and without the help of one's intellect, intelligence or imagination. That is the divine speech known as Veda in common parlance. The effect which is Veda, contains within itself the cause ( inspiration etc.) also, as is usually the case.
In support of this truth, the following quotation:
“Friendly Brahmins who get together to discuss intellectually what is deeply felt in their hearts, are baffled and leave out of consideration the transcendental as indeterminable. Those who know wander in joy.” (Rg. X-71-8)
Yaska in his Nirukta says, “That is Arsha ( pertaining to Rshis) which emerges from beyond the power of speech."
Thus, that knowledge which emerges in the form of super-sensual vision as a result of the creative effort (tapas) of the Rshis is Veda. Since it is heard in the form of metrical language it is called śruti (that which is heard ).
The Satra (aphorism ) in the Veda--pramana charcha' in Viśvameemamsa', is as follows:
That full knowledge or secret and deep meaning which the Rshi sees totally in his own heart or in others by means of his efforts (tapas) is real knowledge. The Veda declares that Vedas are infinite and this is well-known. Even before being visualised by the Rshis the Veda being eternal exists. It exists in the cosmic void, in Brahman, in the immutable spirit in the form of Reality or Truth, in the form of the subtle totality of sound, in the form of consciousness. It is said that out of that the Creator himself brought forth this manifestation in the form of the universe. Kutsa Rshi says in his Mantra :
"He (Creator) was born with effort and immediately assumed all the available knowledge of Kavyas ( Vedas); he sang and with the help of Agni and other Gods created everything else ” (Rg. 1-96-1). Again, "He knew the Kavyas before and created the people along with the Manus (the progenitors ) " (Rg. 1-96-2).
