Shloka 13
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
तन्न: शुश्रूषमाणानामर्हस्यङ्गानुवर्णितुम् । यस्यावतारो भूतानां क्षेमाय च भवाय च ॥ १३ ॥
tan naḥ śuśrūṣamāṇānām arhasy aṅgānuvarṇitum yasyāvatāro bhūtānāṁ kṣemāya ca bhavāya ca
โอ้สูตโคสวามี พวกเราปรารถนาจะสดับ โปรดพรรณนาพระภควานและอวตารของพระองค์ตามที่อาจารย์รุ่นก่อนถ่ายทอดไว้ การกล่าวและการฟังเรื่องนั้นย่อมนำความเกษมและความเจริญแก่สรรพชีวิต
The conditions for hearing the transcendental message of the Absolute Truth are set forth herein. The first condition is that the audience must be very sincere and eager to hear. And the speaker must be in the line of disciplic succession from the recognized ācārya. The transcendental message of the Absolute is not understandable by those who are materially absorbed. Under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, one becomes gradually purified. Therefore, one must be in the chain of disciplic succession and learn the spiritual art of submissive hearing. In the case of Sūta Gosvāmī and the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, all these conditions are fulfilled because Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī is in the line of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, and the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya are all sincere souls who are anxious to learn the truth. Thus the transcendental topics of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s superhuman activities, His incarnation, His birth, appearance or disappearance, His forms, His names and so on are all easily understandable because all requirements are fulfilled. Such discourses help all men on the path of spiritual realization.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord’s descent is for the kṣema (protection and welfare) and bhava (auspicious well-being and flourishing) of all living beings.
Because they were śuśrūṣamāṇa—eager to serve through attentive hearing—and they recognized Sūta as qualified to describe the Lord’s divine aspects for the benefit of all.
Set aside regular time to hear or read Bhagavatam with attention, humility, and the intent to apply it—treating listening as a devotional act rather than mere information.