Shloka 4

Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)

Devanagari script

नैमिषेऽनिमिषक्षेत्रे ऋषय: शौनकादय: । सत्रं स्वर्गायलोकाय सहस्रसममासत ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

naimiṣe ’nimiṣa-kṣetre ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ satraṁ svargāya lokāya sahasra-samam āsata

Translation

نیمِشارَنیہ کے مقدس انیمِش-کشیتر میں شونک وغیرہ رشیوں نے بھگوان اور اس کے بھکتوں کی تسکین کے لیے، سُورگ لوک کی حصولیابی کی نیت سے، ہزار برس کا سَتر یَجْن شروع کیا۔

Synonyms

• नैमिषे: in Naimiṣa
• नैमिषे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन

• अनिमिष-क्षेत्रे: in the Animiṣa sacred field
• अनिमिष-क्षेत्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिमिष + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अनिमिषं क्षेत्रम् = sacred ‘unblinking’ region)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• शौनक-आदयः: headed by Śaunaka
• शौनक-आदयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शौनकः आदिः येषाम् = headed by Śaunaka)

• सत्रम्: sacrificial session
• सत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• स्वर्गाय: for heaven
• स्वर्गाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन) एकवचन

• लोकाय: for the world (welfare)
• लोकाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन) एकवचन

• सहस्र-समम्: for a thousand years’ duration
• सहस्र-समम्: Kāla/Parimāṇa (काल/परिमाण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + सम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सहस्रेण समम् = equal to a thousand [years])

• आसत: sat / remained
• आसत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

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.

Characters & Entities

• Shaunaka
• Sages of Naimisharanya

FAQs

What is the significance of Naimisharanya in Srimad Bhagavatam?

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.

Why did Shaunaka and the sages perform a thousand-year satra?

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.

How can modern seekers apply the teaching of this shloka?

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).