Shloka 12
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
सूत जानासि भद्रं ते भगवान् सात्वतां पति: । देवक्यां वसुदेवस्य जातो यस्य चिकीर्षया ॥ १२ ॥
sūta jānāsi bhadraṁ te bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ devakyāṁ vasudevasya jāto yasya cikīrṣayā
ഹേ സൂതാ, നിനക്കു മംഗളം. സാത്വതങ്ങളുടെ പതി ആയ ഭഗവാൻ ഏതു ഉദ്ദേശത്തോടെ ദേവകിയുടെ ഗർഭത്തിൽ വസുദേവന്റെ പുത്രനായി അവതരിച്ചുവെന്നത് നീ അറിയുന്നു.
Bhagavān means the almighty God who is the controller of all opulence, power, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. He is the protector of His pure devotees. Although God is equally disposed to everyone, He is especially inclined to His devotees. Sat means the Absolute Truth. And persons who are servitors of the Absolute Truth are called sātvatas. And the Personality of Godhead who protects such pure devotees is known as the protector of the sātvatas. Bhadraṁ te, or “blessings upon you,” indicates the sages’ anxiety to know the Absolute Truth from the speaker. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared to Devakī, the wife of Vasudeva. Vasudeva is the symbol of the transcendental position wherein the appearance of the Supreme Lord takes place.
FAQs
This verse says He took birth by His own divine intention (cikīrṣayā) to accomplish His purpose—His avatāra mission for the world and His devotees.
At Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages recognize Sūta as learned in Bhagavata wisdom and therefore ask him to speak about the Supreme Lord—especially His appearance and activities.
Remember that the Lord acts with purpose and protection for devotees; cultivate bhakti with trust that divine guidance operates even within worldly events.