Unified Science of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

In the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, spiritual advancement is structured around the systematic study of authoritative scriptures. Among these, the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam hold the primary positions. They are interconnected phases of a single educational path: the Bhagavad-gītā provides the essential philosophical foundation, while the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam builds the superstructure of transcendental realization. This article explores the progressive relationship between these two texts and their indispensability for every serious candidate for liberation.

Preliminary and Graduate Studies

Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently uses the analogy of an educational system to describe the relationship between these two books. The Bhagavad-gītā is the "A-B-C-D" or the entrance examination for spiritual life. It brings the student to the point of surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. Once this surrender is established, one is qualified to enter the "graduate school" of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which deals with the specific activities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

• Bhagavad-gita is the preliminary study of spiritual life. If you can understand Bhagavad-gita, then you can begin Srimad-Bhagavatam. If you have not understood Bhagavad-gita, it is useless. You cannot understand Srimad-Bhagavatam.
• The Bhagavad-gita is the A-B-C-D to entrance, and Srimad-Bhagavatam is the graduate study, and Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta is the postgraduate study of spiritual life.
• Ideally, one begins with the Bhagavad-gita and advances through Srimad-Bhagavatam to the Caitanya-caritamrta.

Two Forms of Kṛṣṇa-kathā

Both books are classified as kṛṣṇa-kathā, or topics concerning Kṛṣṇa, but they differ in their presentation. The Bhagavad-gītā is kṛṣṇa-kathā because it is spoken personally by the Lord. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is kṛṣṇa-kathā because it is spoken about the Lord by His pure devotees. Together, they offer a complete picture: one hears God speaking, and one hears about God's activities.

• There are two kinds of krsna-katha, Bhagavad-gita spoken personally by Krsna and Srimad-Bhagavatam, spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami about the glories of Krsna.
• The words given by Krsna personally is this Bhagavad-gita, and words about Krsna is Srimad-Bhagavatam. So this Krsna consciousness movement means preaching these two principal Vedic literature throughout the whole world.
• There are two narrative books which especially concern the words and activities of Krsna. Bhagavad-gita is the instruction given by Krsna, and Srimad-Bhagavatam is the book containing topics exclusively about Krsna and His devotees.

Essential for Preachers and Devotees

For those in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, studying these texts is not optional. It is the lifeblood of their spiritual maintenance and the basis of their preaching. A devotee must read these books to avoid falling down into material consciousness. Furthermore, a spiritual master is defined as one who instructs others to follow the orders given in these two scriptures.

• All the devotees connected with the Krsna consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (the CC, SB, BG and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position.
• Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.
• We have to change this body (tatha dehantara-praptih (BG 2.13)). If we do not care about Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, we do not know what the next body will be.

Sound Incarnations and Authority

Both the Gītā and the Bhāgavatam are sound incarnations of Kṛṣṇa. They possess the full potency of the Lord to cleanse the heart of the listener. There is no qualitative difference between them; they are interdependent sciences of theism that must be heard from authorized sources to be effective.

• Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam are sound incarnations of Krsna. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is also the literary incarnation of Krsna, and it is the fruit of Vedic knowledge.
• A person trying to be perfectly Krsna conscious by hearing the words of Krsna from Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita certainly has all the dirty things cleansed from the core of his heart.
• Srimad-Bhagavatam is the postgraduate study for the student of the Bhagavad-gita. Both of them are the science of Krsna, the Absolute Truth, and so they are interdependent.

Conclusion

To attain perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must respectfully traverse the path laid out by the ācāryas. By mastering the principles of surrender in the Bhagavad-gītā, one becomes eligible to relish the sweet pastimes of the Lord in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. These two books are the "torchbearers" for the blind age of Kali, guiding the sincere soul out of darkness and back to the eternal kingdom of God.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

• Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.