Shloka 8
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
वेत्थ त्वं सौम्य तत्सर्वं तत्त्वतस्तदनुग्रहात् । ब्रूयु: स्निग्धस्य शिष्यस्य गुरवो गुह्यमप्युत ॥ ८ ॥
vettha tvaṁ saumya tat sarvaṁ tattvatas tad-anugrahāt brūyuḥ snigdhasya śiṣyasya guravo guhyam apy uta
హే సౌమ్యా! వారి అనుగ్రహముచేత మీరు ఆ సమస్తాన్ని తత్త్వతః తెలుసుకున్నారు; ఎందుకంటే స్నేహభరిత గురువులు వినయశీల శిష్యునికి గూఢ రహస్యమును కూడా చెప్పుదురు।
The secret of success in spiritual life is in satisfying the spiritual master and thereby getting his sincere blessings. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has sung in his famous eight stanzas on the spiritual master as follows: “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. Only by his satisfaction can one please the Personality of Godhead, and when he is dissatisfied there is only havoc on the path of spiritual realization.” It is essential, therefore, that a disciple be very much obedient and submissive to the bona fide spiritual master. Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī fulfilled all these qualifications as a disciple, and therefore he was endowed with all favors by his learned and self-realized spiritual masters such as Śrīla Vyāsadeva and others. The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya were confident that Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī was bona fide. Therefore they were anxious to hear from him.
FAQs
This verse explains that confidential truths are revealed by realized teachers to a sincere, affectionate disciple—by the teacher’s mercy and the disciple’s receptivity.
The sages recognized that Suta had learned the Bhagavata in truth through the grace of his spiritual authorities, and they requested him to share even the deeper, confidential conclusions for the benefit of all.
Approach authentic teachers with humility and steady devotion, cultivate trust and sincerity, and study consistently—spiritual depth unfolds through guidance, service attitude, and grace.