# Books and Literature *On the importance of transcendental literature* --- ### Book Distribution Is the Most Important Task > This book distribution is the most important task in our Society. Therefore I am giving so much stress and I am working so hard on this. Because this is my life and soul according to the order of my Guru Maharaja. And by his grace it is to some extent successful. And I took it seriously. I take it seriously still now. That is my life and soul. I never tried in India to construct big temples, or even in your country we didn't. I never tried. But I was selling personally books. That is the history. Sometimes they are criticizing, "What kind of *sannyasi?* He is doing book business." — [[spoken/1976/761231r2.bom|Room Conversation, Bombay, December 31, 1976]] --- ### Don't Hear Bhagavad-gita from Non-Devotees > So Sanatana Gosvami says, "If it is uttered by *avaisnava—*who is not a devotee, he is a professional man, so-called scholar and politician—don't hear it. Don't hear it." *Avaisnava:* "Because he is not a Vaisnava." *Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-katha. Hari-katha* means Krsna's words. They are very purified. That's all right. But no, *sravanam naiva kartavyam.* Why? Because *sarpocchistam yatha payah.* Just like milk. Milk is very good food, but if it is touched by the tongue of a serpent, it becomes poison. If you eat that kind of milk, your life will be finished. Similarly, our only request is that don't try to read *Bhagavad-gita* commented by unauthorized so-called scholars or politicians. Simply read *Bhagavad-gita* as it is. Simply accept what Krsna says. Then you will be benefited. — [[spoken/1973/731114sb.del|Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.9–10, Delhi, November 14, 1973]] --- ### We Are Publishing So Many Books > First of all make yourself perfect. You can make yourself perfect because in the Bharata-varsa there are this *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam,* Vedic literature. Just study them. And therefore we are publishing so many books on the basis of *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and people are appreciating very much all over the world. So it is the duty of every Indian to make his life perfect by understanding *Bhagavad-gita* at least, and spread the message. — [[spoken/1976/761216bg.hyd|Bhagavad-gita 16.8, Hyderabad, December 16, 1976]] --- ### You Can Associate with Me by Reading My Books > So in my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books. That's all. [...] That's all right. But still, you can associate with me by reading my books. — [[spoken/1975/750807mw.tor|Morning Walk, Toronto, August 7, 1975]] --- ### Reading Books Is Also Chanting > The books are what actually attracts them. It attracts their minds. [...] Yes. We have got two process. One process is chanting. Another process: read books. That is also chanting. — [[spoken/1975/750401r1.may|Room Conversation, Mayapur, April 1, 1975]] --- ### If They Read My Books They Will Be Benefited > Yes, he said that he will sponsor us in this union, and then our devotees can study just your books. Maybe they must take an English course, and that would be all we couldn't offer. Then everything else, they can study from your books. [...] Some way or other, if they read my books, they will be benefited. There is no doubt about it. — [[spoken/1975/750622gc.la|GBC Meeting, Los Angeles, June 22, 1975]] --- ### Every Page You Will Find Krsna > So our Krsna consciousness movement is scientific, authorized. People has to give little attention. Then they will understand. Therefore we are publishing so many books, only about Krsna. In every page you will find "Krsna, Krsna, Krsna." Either in *Krsna* book or in *Caitanya-caritamrta* or in the *Bhagavata* or in *The Nectar of Devotion* or in *Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* the word is Krsna. That is simply explained in different way. — [[spoken/1975/750313r1.teh|Room Conversation with Iranian Ambassador, Tehran, March 13, 1975]] --- ### Everyone Can Become Guru—Simply Repeat > That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. *Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa*. Every one of you can become a *guru.* He says that. *Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa.* Wherever you are, you can deliver the persons, surrounding person in your neighborhood. "How can I become *guru?* I have no qualification." No. There is no need of qualification. Simply repeat. *Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa*. Very simple thing. Anyone you meet: "My dear friend, just hear little." "What is that?" "Now, Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You kindly think of Krsna. Just offer your obeisances to Krsna, just become a *bhakta* and chant His holy name." *Bas.* Your *gurugiri* is finished. — [[spoken/1976/761216bg.hyd|Bhagavad-gita 16.8, Hyderabad, December 16, 1976]] --- *8 verified verbatim quotes from Srila Prabhupada on books and literature*