Without becoming a learned scholar nobody can become a brahmana… We are also giving our student position as brahmana, but if he remains a fool number one, then we are misusing our attempt. He should be very learned scholar. That should be the aim. And there is no difficulty to become a learned scholar because we have got so many books. You simply read and digest what we are speaking. Not that we are simply meant for selling books. We are reading. We must read. Then our position as brahmana will be fulfilled. Because brahmanas are teacher. Anyone who can teach, he is brahmana. So unless you read thoroughly, what you are going to speak to the world, how you can become a brahmana and pandita?

(Srila Prabhupada; lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.1 – Honolulu, June 1, 1975)