Bhaktivinoda Thakura answers this question as follows: “Just as everyone has a right to chant the holy names of Krsna, the essence of all Vedic literature, everyone has a right to study the Puranas and histories, which are as good as the Vedas. The same Vyasadeva who divided the Vedas and compiled the puranas and histories: therefore, the glories of the Puranas and histories are equal to the Vedas.” (from Sajjana-tosani 11/10 from the book “Sri Bhaktividinoda Vani Vaibhavam” page 307, published by Touchstone Media (undated)).