Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, 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
Tại Naimiṣāraṇya, nơi thánh địa gọi là Animiṣa-kṣetra, các bậc hiền triết đứng đầu là Śaunaka đã tụ hội để cử hành đại tế satra suốt một ngàn năm, nhằm làm hài lòng Thượng Đế và các bhakta của Ngài, và để đạt 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).