Shloka 21
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
कलिमागतमाज्ञाय क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन् वैष्णवे वयम् । आसीना दीर्घसत्रेण कथायां सक्षणा हरे: ॥ २१ ॥
kalim āgatam ājñāya kṣetre ’smin vaiṣṇave vayam āsīnā dīrgha-satreṇa kathāyāṁ sakṣaṇā hareḥ
เมื่อทราบชัดว่ากาลียุคได้เริ่มแล้ว พวกเราจึงมาชุมนุม ณ แดนศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของไวษณพนี้; เพื่อประกอบสัตรายาว เราฟังพระกถาอันเหนือโลกของพระหริอย่างพิสดารและทำยัญญะไปพร้อมกัน
This Age of Kali is not at all suitable for self-realization as was Satya-yuga, the golden age, or Tretā- or Dvāpara-yugas, the silver and copper ages. For self-realization, the people in Satya-yuga, living a lifetime of a hundred thousand years, were able to perform prolonged meditation. And in Tretā-yuga, when the duration of life was ten thousand years, self-realization was attained by performance of great sacrifice. And in the Dvāpara-yuga, when the duration of life was one thousand years, self-realization was attained by worship of the Lord. But in the Kali-yuga, the maximum duration of life being one hundred years only and that combined with various difficulties, the recommended process of self-realization is that of hearing and chanting of the holy name, fame, and pastimes of the Lord. The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya began this process in a place meant specifically for the devotees of the Lord. They prepared themselves to hear the pastimes of the Lord over a period of one thousand years. By the example of these sages one should learn that regular hearing and recitation of the Bhāgavatam is the only way for self-realization. Other attempts are simply a waste of time, for they do not give any tangible results. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached this system of Bhāgavata-dharma, and He recommended that all those who were born in India should take the responsibility of broadcasting the messages of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, primarily the message of Bhagavad-gītā. And when one is well established in the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā, he can take up the study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for further enlightenment in self-realization.
FAQs
This verse presents constant engagement in Hari-kathā—hearing and discussing the Lord’s narrations in a sacred Vaiṣṇava atmosphere—as the practical shelter from the influence of Kali.
Because they recognize Kali Yuga’s arrival, they choose a sanctified place and dedicate themselves to an extended spiritual program centered on Hari-kathā, using the sacrifice as a framework for continuous devotion.
Make daily time for Bhagavatam listening/reading, keep devotional audio or kīrtana during routines, and regularly join satsanga—so remembrance and discussion of Hari becomes frequent and steady.