I) Śruti (श्रुति) means "that which is heard/saw".
It is true that it refers to the foundational, authoritative body of sacred texts consisting of divine revelations heard/saw by ancient Rishis, during their deep contemplations/meditations.
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II) For understanding purposes, let us take the example of Medical field.
If a group of senior medical professionals, including surgeons, spread over different area come together and compile a Medical Compendium, covering various aspects of medical field, including medicines, their doses, surgery issues, etc., it becomes an authoritative book on that field, as on that date.
A compendium is a concise yet comprehensive collection of information, facts, or written works on a particular subject. It cuts out exhaustive, unnecessary details to get straight to the key points.
It does not mean that it is an exhaustive text on the Medical field, as including every aspect of medical field in a single book, is not possible.
Further, the issues mentioned in that Medical Compendium might be elusive to commoners. They require a detailed explanation of those issues by similar experts.
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Śruti (श्रुति) is like a COMPENDIUM ON THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS, which can only be explained another rishi of the calibre of Rig Vedic rishis, viz., Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Shri Ramana Maharshi, etc.
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III) Coming to the Bhagavad Gita, we have to remember that it is an interpolation, added subsequently by later date scholar into the Mahabharata. Further, Sage Vyasa did not project Shri Krishna as Vishnu, which narration is again an interpolation.
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IV) Still, if we browse through the contents of Bhagavad Gita, we can find that it contains the sayings of Rig Veda, Upanishads and Puranic aspects like eulogisation of Shri Krishna as Vishnu with 4 hands - Vishwarupa darshana episode.
For example:
In Rig Veda, occasionally we can find a rishi saying in DIVINE ecstasy (in first person) that he/she is the BRAHMAN itself and that he/she taught the DIVINE knowledge to some seers of earlier age.
अहं मनुरभवं सूर्यश्चाहं कक्षीवाँ ऋषिरस्मि विप्रः । अहं कुत्समार्जुनेयं न्यृञ्जेऽहं कविरुशना पश्यता मा ॥
aham manur abhavaṃ sūryaś cāhaṃ kakṣīvām̐ ṛṣir asmi vipraḥ | ahaṃ kutsam ārjuneyaṃ
ny ṛñje 'haṃ kavir uśanā paśyatā mā ||
English translation:
I became Manu and the sun. I am Kakṣīvant, the inspired seer. I steered myself down to Kutsa, the son of Arjuna. I am Kavi Uśanā. Look at me!
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Now, look at the following Bhagavad Gita Shloka
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान्।
मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी।।10.21।।
Among the Adityas [viz Dhata, Mitra, aryama, Rudra, Varuna, Surya, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Pusa, Savita, Tvasta and Visnu.-Tr.] I am Visnu; among the luminaries, the radiant sun; among the (forty-nine) Maruts [The seven groups of Maruts are Avaha, Pravaha, Vivaha, Paravaha, Udvaha, Samvaha and parivaha.-Tr.] I am Marici; among the stars I am the moon.
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V) Shri Ramana Maharshi said about the word brahmacārī (ब्रह्मचारी), as follows:
Q: Do you approve of sexual continence?
Ramana Maharshi: A true brahmachari [celibate] is one who dwells in Brahman. Then there is no question of desires anymore.
What Rig Veda says about brahmacārī (ब्रह्मचारी) ?
ब्रह्मचारी चरति वेविषद्विषः स देवानां भवत्येकमङ्गम् । तेन जायामन्वविन्दद्बृहस्पतिः सोमेन नीतां जुह्वं न देवाः ॥
brahmacārī carati veviṣad viṣaḥ sa devānām bhavaty ekam aṅgam | tena jāyām anv avindad bṛhaspatiḥ somena nītāṃ juhvaṃ na devāḥ ||
Meaning:
One who lives and moves in Brahman enters into all the domains and becomes one limbed with all the Gods. The Master of the Word followed in that way and found the Supreme Illumination led by the Soma, even as the Gods found and possessed the oblation.
