prabhu kahe, — "kon vidyÄ vidyÄ-madhye sÄra?"
rÄya kahe, — "kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinÄ vidyÄ nÄhi Ära"

1 times this text was mentioned in purports to other texts: NBS(1)

 prabhu kahe - the Lord inquired; kon - what; vidyÄ - knowledge; vidyÄ-madhye - in the midst of knowledge; sÄra - the most important; rÄya kahe - RÄmÄnanda RÄya answered; kṛṣṇa-bhakti - devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; vinÄ - except; vidyÄ - education; nÄhi - there is not; Ära - any other.


Text

On one occasion the Lord inquired, “Of all types of education, which is the most important?â€

Purport

RÄmÄnanda RÄya replied, “No education is important other than the transcendental devotional service of Kṛṣṇa.â€

texts 245 to 257 are all questions and answers between ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu and RÄmÄnanda RÄya. In these exchanges there is an attempt to show the difference between material and spiritual existence. Education in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is always transcendental and is the best of all forms of education. Material education aims at increasing the activities of material sense gratification. Beyond material sense gratification is another negative form of knowledge called brahma-vidyÄ, or impersonal transcendental knowledge. But beyond that brahma-vidyÄ, or knowledge of the impersonal Brahman, is knowledge of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. This knowledge is higher. And higher still is devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, which is the topmost form of education. According to ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (4.29.49), tat karma hari-toá¹£aá¹ yat sÄ vidyÄ tan-matir yayÄ: “Work meant for pleasing the Supreme Lord is the best, and education that enhances one’s Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the best.â€

Also, according to ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (7.5.23-24):

Å›ravaṇaá¹ kÄ«rtanaá¹ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaá¹ pÄda-sevanam
arcanaá¹ vandanaá¹ dÄsyaá¹ sakhyam Ätma-nivedanam
iti puá¹sÄrpitÄ viṣṇau bhaktiÅ› cen nava-laká¹£aṇÄ
kriyeta bhagavaty addhÄ tan manye ’dhÄ«tam uttamam

This is a statement given by PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja in answer to a question raised by his father. PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja said, “To hear or chant about Lord Viṣṇu, to remember Him, to serve His lotus feet, to worship Him, to offer prayers to Him, to become His servant and His friend, to sacrifice everything for His service — all these are varieties of devotional service. One who is engaged in such activities is understood to be educated to the topmost perfection.â€