Srila Prabhupada and various scriptures emphasize the importance of reading Srimad Bhagavatam. Some key points: - Srimad Bhagavatam contains all spiritual and material knowledge and reading it completes one's education. - Devotees should read Prabhupada's books including Srimad Bhagavatam to maintain their spiritual advancement. - Examinations were held to test knowledge of Srimad Bhagavatam and other books and award spiritual titles. - The first two cantos depict Krishna's lotus feet and one should start there before moving on to other parts.

1. “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.”
– Srila Prabhupada in a lecture on S.B 2.3.22 at Los Angeles, June 19, 1972
“all your education is complete…”

2. All the devotees connected with
the Kåñëa consciousness
movement must read all the
books that have been translated
(the Caitanya-caritämåta, Çrémad-
Bhägavatam, Bhagavad-gétä and
others); otherwise, after some
time, they will simply eat, sleep
and fall down from their position.
Thus they will miss the
opportunity to attain an eternal,
blissful life of transcendental
pleasure.
– C.C Madhya 25.278 purport.
Everyone should read the books…

3. Bhakti Vaibhava…
…"Bhakti-vaibhava'' is awarded after study of Vedanta-sutra and Srimad-Bhagavatam on a
preliminary basis; and "Bhaktivedanta'' the highest title, is awarded after extensive study
of Caitanya-caritamrta. - Letter to: Brahmananda - Hawaii 23 March, 1969

4. 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
…the person who passes will have the title Bhakti-vaibhava

5. “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 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”
- Srila Prabhupada in a lecture on S.B. 2.3.17, Los Angeles 1969

6. Don’t Waste Time…Read Srimad Bhagavatam…
So this practice should be adopted.
Don't waste time. As much as
possible, try to hear about this
transcendental subject matter,
Bhägavatam.
- Srila Prabhupada in a lecture on S.B. 1.13.12- Geneva, June 3, 1974

7. Reading Srimad Bhagavatam…That is the main business…
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. - Srila Prabhupada in
a lecture on S.B. 1.13.12- Geneva, June 3, 1974

8. 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.
www.mayapurinstitute.org
simply by reading Çrémad-Bhägavatam, you will be happy
Lecture on S.B. 1.13.12- Geneva, June 3, 1974

9. 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.
“If one simply reads Çrémad-Bhägavatam, he gains the topmost education ..”
– Teachings of Queen Kunti 5: The Vision of Lotuses

10. …sit for examination once a year at Mayapur
“…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… 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.”
- Srila Prabhupada in a Letter to Tusta Krsna -- Bombay 9 January, 1976
www.mayapurinstitute.org

11. 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.
www.mayapurinstitute.org
Letter to Kirtanananda — Los Angeles 12 January, 1969

12. Everything is there in Srimad Bhagavatam…
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
1.8.22 -- Los Angeles, April 14, 1973

13. If one studies Çrémad-Bhägavatam, he is well versed in every subject matter.
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. - Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.8.22 -- Los Angeles, April 14, 1973

14. 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

15. “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.
-Närada-bhakti-sütra,Ch2, Defining Bhakti

16. 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

17. 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

18. Our theological school will regularly
teach our published books, such as
Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-
Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord
Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion, Brahma
Samhita, and Krishna. We wish to hold
examinations and award titles such as
Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, and
Bhaktivedanta. The whole program will
continue for seven years, and the
students who will be fully engaged in
this study of a seven year course will be
classified in the 4-D section of the draft
board - Letter to: Aniruddha, Los Angeles 4
February, 1969

19. We are just worshiping lotus feet of Kåñëa
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

20. 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. -Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.2.24 -
Våndävana, November 4, 1972

21. If you read Srimad Bhagavatam,
then immediately you will realize
God – Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.2

22. “each and every çloka, verse, should be pronounced…”
So, if you chant these mantras, at least one in one
day, your life will be glorious. This mantra,
bhägavata-mantra, not only Bhägavata, every Vedic
literature is a mantra. Transcendental sound. So
practice resounding this mantra. So we have taken
so much labor to put in diacritic mark, all the
words, word meaning, utilize it. Don't think that
these books are only for sale. If you go to sell these
books and if some customer says, "You pronounce
it," then what you will do?
Then he will understand, "Oh, you are for selling, not for understanding." What do you think?
Eh? So therefore it is necessary now, you have got nice books, each and every çloka, verse, should
be pronounced. Therefore we have given this original verse in Sanskrit, its transliteration with
diacritic mark—these marks are universally accepted amongst the scholars. So all the scholars of
Sanskrit, they agreed to use this mark for pronouncing Sanskrit language. - Çrémad-Bhägavatam
1.1.1 -- New York, July 6, 1972