Shloka 4
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
नैमिषेऽनिमिषक्षेत्रे ऋषय: शौनकादय: । सत्रं स्वर्गायलोकाय सहस्रसममासत ॥ ४ ॥
naimiṣe ’nimiṣa-kṣetre ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ satraṁ svargāya lokāya sahasra-samam āsata
Sa Naimiṣāraṇya, sa banal na pook na tinatawag na Animiṣa-kṣetra, nagtipon ang mga dakilang rishi na pinamunuan ni Śaunaka upang magsagawa ng satra-yajña sa loob ng isang libong taon, para sa ikalulugod ng Panginoon at ng Kanyang mga bhakta at upang makamit ang Svarga-loka.
The prelude of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was spoken in the previous three ślokas. Now the main topic of this great literature is being presented. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, after its first recitation by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, was repeated for the second time at Naimiṣāraṇya.
FAQs
This verse presents Naimiṣāraṇya as a specially sanctified place (animiṣa-kṣetra) where great sages gather to perform spiritual work for the welfare of the world and to hear sacred wisdom.
They undertook a long sacrificial session to benefit all people (lokāya) and to attain higher spiritual merit and heavenly destinations (svargāya), creating an auspicious setting for hearing the Bhagavatam.
By organizing life around sādhana—regular worship, sacred study, and satsanga—done not only for personal gain but also for the upliftment of society (loka-kalyāṇa).