Çréla Prabhupäda on study of Çrémad-Bhägavatam

“all your education is complete …”

If you study Çrémad-Bhägavatam perfectly, then all your education is complete. You don’t require any
other book to read; you get from Çrémad-Bhägavatam all material and spiritual knowledge, and at the
end, Kåñëa. This is the profit.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.3.22 Los Angeles, June 19, 1972

“we should always read Çrémad-Bhägavatam…”

So we should take the place of Mahäräja Parékñit that he was given time, seven days, and he prepared
himself, by learning Çrémad-Bhägavatam, for the next life. But we have no even notice when we shall
die; therefore we should always read Çrémad-Bhägavatam and prepare for the next life. That is the
business of elevated consciousness.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.3.17 Los Angeles 69

“That is the main business. That is pure devotional service…”

So this practice should be adopted. Don't waste time. As much as possible, try to hear about this
transcendental subject matter, Bhägavatam. Yad vaiñëavänäà priyam. It is stated that "The Çrémad-
Bhägavatam is very, very dear to the Vaiñëavas, to the devotees." In Våndävana, you will find, they are
always reading Çrémad-Bhägavatam. That is their life and soul. So now we have got already six volumes,
and further... How many? Eight volumes are coming? So you will have enough stock. So you should
read. Çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù. That is the main business. That is pure devotional service. Because we
cannot devote twenty-four hours in hearing and chanting; therefore we have extended our activities,
program activities, in so many ways. Otherwise, Çrémad-Bhägavatam is so nice, if you practice
anywhere, any condition, simply by reading Çrémad-Bhägavatam, you will be happy. So adopt this
practice and make your spiritual life perfect more and more.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.13.12 -- Geneva, June 3, 1974

“If one simply reads Çrémad-Bhägavatam, he gains the topmost education ..”
Whatever knowledge exists in the world is present in Çrémad-Bhägavatam. It includes literature, poetry,
astronomy, philosophy, religion, and love of Godhead. Çrémad-bhägavataà pramäëam amalam. If one
simply reads Çrémad-Bhägavatam, he gains the topmost education, for if one studies Çrémad-
Bhägavatam he will be well versed in every subject matter.
TQK 5: The Vision of Lotuses

“Create a new generation …fluent speaker in Çrémad-Bhägavatam…”

We want some generation who can preach Kåñëa consciousness. So if they learn simply English and
Sanskrit, they will be able to read this book, and that is sufficient. We don't want anything. All
informations are there. Throughout the whole world, whatever knowledge is there, in the Çrémad-
Bhägavatam, everything is there. There is literature, there is poetry, there is philosophy, there is religion,
there is love of Godhead, there is astronomy. Everything is there. Çrémad-bhägavatam amalaà puräëam.
Vidyä bhägavatävadhiù. If one simply reads this Çrémad-Bhägavatam, his education is the topmost.
Vidyä bhägavatävadhiù. There is something topmost, ultimate. So for education, vidyä, this Çrémad-
Bhägavatam. If one studies Çrémad-Bhägavatam, he is well versed in every subject matter.
So we want to create a new generation in your country so that in the future there'll be fluent speaker in
Çrémad-Bhägavatam and preach all over the country, and your country will be saved. This is our
program. We have come here not to exploit your country, but to give you something substantial. This is
Kåñëa consciousness movement.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.8.22 -- Los Angeles, April 14, 1973
 Çréla Prabhupäda on Bhaktivaibhava
“Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhaktivedanta, and Bhakti-sarvabhauma. All our brahmanas and
anyone wanting to become brahmana, will have to sit for examination once a year at Mayapur. They will
be expected to know Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Sri Isopanisad, a book
soon to be published on Deity worship, as well as all the small paperbacks. If they pass the examination
they will be awarded Bhakti-sastri certificate. Sannyasis will be asked to sit for Bhakti-vaibhava
examination which will include the first six cantos of Bhagavatam.”
Letter to: Tusta Krsna — Bombay 9 January, 1976

“Anyone wishing to be initiated as a brahmana will have to pass the Bhaktisastri exam and anyone
wishing to take sannyasa will have to pass the Bhaktivaibhava examination as well. This will prevent our
Society from degrading to the level of so many other institutions where, in order to maintain the Temple,
they accept all third class men as brahmanas. Any sannyasis or brahmanas already initiated who fail to
pass the exams will be considered low class or less qualified. Anyone wishing to be 2nd initiated will sit
for examination once a year at Mayapur. Answers will be in essay form and authoritative quotations will
be given a bigger score. During the exams books may not be consulted.”
Letter to: All Governing Body Commissioners — Nellore, South India 6 January, 1976

A first examination will be held sometimes next January on Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and those passing
will have the degree of Bhakti-sastri. Next year we will hold an examination on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and
the person who passes will have the title Bhakti-vaibhava. And the next year we shall hold an
examination on Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion and Vedanta Sutra, and those who will
successfully pass will be awarded with the title of Bhaktivedanta. By 1975, all of those who have passed
all of the above examinations will be specifically empowered to initiate and increase the number of the
Krishna Consciousness population.
Letter to: Kirtanananda — Los Angeles 12 January, 1969

Study of Päda-padma: Çrémad-Bhägavatam Cantos 1 & 2

“authorized approach to the Bhägavatam…”
The authorized approach to the Bhägavatam is to first carefully read the first nine cantos, which establish
the greatness of the Supreme Lord, His universal form, His material and spiritual energies, His creation of
the cosmos, His incarnations, and so on. Reading the first two cantos is like contemplating the lotus feet
of the Lord, and as one gradually progresses, one looks upon the Lord's various bodily limbs, until finally
one sees His smiling face in the Tenth Canto's account of His pastimes with the gopés.
Närada-bhakti-sütra, Chapter 2, Defining Bhakti, 23

first of all attempt to see the lotus feet .. by studying the First and Second Cantos
As sunshine dissipates the darkness of this material world, the effulgence emanating from the body of the
Lord immediately dries up the darkness in the heart of the conditioned soul. In other words, everyone
serious about understanding the transcendental science and seeing the transcendental form of the Lord
must first of all attempt to see the lotus feet of the Lord by studying the First and Second Cantos of
Çrémad-Bhägavatam. When one sees the lotus feet of the Lord, all kinds of doubts and fears within the
heart are vanquished.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 4.24.52 Purport

One has to go, one after another

So therefore Vyäsadeva has taken so much trouble to establish the Bhägavata life in Twelve Cantos. One
has to go, one after another, one after another, one after another. Not jumping. Daçama-skandha, the
Tenth Canto is the face of Kåñëa. So worshiping Kåñëa means one should offer tulasé on His lotus feet
first of all. Not jump over to the mouth or to the face. So the First and Second cantos are the two lotus
feet of Kåñëa. One should begin worshiping Bhägavatam, or the sound representation of Kåñëa, by
worshiping the First Canto and Second Cantos. We are reading the First Canto. We are just worshiping
one lotus feet of Kåñëa. Then the other. Then the thighs. Gradually, you have to rise to the face. The
Tenth Canto is the face of Kåñëa. Don't jump over immediately. Read it. But try to understand from the
very beginning.
 Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.2.24 -- Våndävana, November 4, 1972

The subject matter was so important, so urgent. So I wrote those first three volumes of Srimad
Bhagavatam, the First Canto. All of our philosophy, everything you need to know, is in those first three
volumes.
VDM 5: Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodar