Shloka 6
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
त्वया खलु पुराणानि सेतिहासानि चानघ । आख्यातान्यप्यधीतानि धर्मशास्त्राणि यान्युत ॥ ६ ॥
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tvayā khalu purāṇāni setihāsāni cānagha ākhyātāny apy adhītāni dharma-śāstrāṇi yāny uta
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า—โอ้ สุตะ โคสวามีผู้ปราศจากมลทิน ท่านได้ศึกษาและเล่าอธิบายปุราณะและอิติหาสะ ตลอดจนคัมภีร์ธรรมศาสตร์ ภายใต้การชี้นำของครูผู้แท้จริงแล้ว
A gosvāmī, or the bona fide representative of Śrī Vyāsadeva, must be free from all kinds of vices. The four major vices of Kali-yuga are (1) illicit connection with women, (2) animal slaughter, (3) intoxication, (4) speculative gambling of all sorts. A gosvāmī must be free from all these vices before he can dare sit on the vyāsāsana. No one should be allowed to sit on the vyāsāsana who is not spotless in character and who is not freed from the above-mentioned vices. He not only should be freed from all such vices, but must also be well versed in all revealed scriptures or in the Vedas. The Purāṇas are also parts of the Vedas. And histories like the Mahābhārata or Rāmāyaṇa are also parts of the Vedas. The ācārya or the gosvāmī must be well acquainted with all these literatures. To hear and explain them is more important than reading them. One can assimilate the knowledge of the revealed scriptures only by hearing and explaining. Hearing is called śravaṇa, and explaining is called kīrtana. The two processes of śravaṇa and kīrtana are of primary importance to progressive spiritual life. Only one who has properly grasped the transcendental knowledge from the right source by submissive hearing can properly explain the subject.
FAQs
It states that Suta Gosvāmī had studied and also taught the Purāṇas, the Itihāsas, and the dharma-śāstras—establishing him as a reliable speaker for the sages’ inquiry.
Śaunaka Ṛṣi acknowledges Suta’s scriptural mastery to respectfully qualify him before requesting the essence of dharma and bhakti for the welfare of people in Kali-yuga.
It highlights the value of learning from well-trained, scripture-grounded teachers and approaching sacred study with humility, respect, and a sincere desire for spiritual benefit.