Essential Truths of Bhagavatam (Six Questions)

Chapter 1, 2, 3

At the sacred forest of Naimisaranya, located in present-day northern India, 88,000 sages had gathered. Headed by Saunaka Rishi, their noble purpose was to perform a one-thousand-year sacrifice for the spiritual well-being of mankind. Seeing the divine calibre and spotless character of Suta Goswami, the sages place six crucial enquiries before him. This exchange of questions and answers unveils essential spiritual truths for the benefit of countless generations to come [].

1. “What is the ultimate good for humanity?” When living beings free themselves from selfish material desires, engage in unmotivated and uninterrupted service to Krishna, and thus develop pure love for Him, they truly satisfy their innermost yearning.

2. “What is the essence of all scriptural knowledge?” The understanding that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that we should reestablish our lost relationship with Him through devotional service (bhakti).

3. “Why did Krishna appear in this world?” To protect and uplift those of saintly disposition, and to attract all other living entities to re-enter the spiritual world.

4. “What were the activities of the Lord in relation to creation?” After generating the entire material substance, the Lord facilitated the creative process by expanding as the various Vishnu incarnations, thus providing a stage for living entities to live separately from God.

5. “What were the activities of each incarnation of the Lord?” The various forms of the Lord descend from the spiritual world to the material world for different purposes, and Krishna is the original source of them all (twenty-two such incarnations are described).

6. “When Krishna departs from the world, where will religious principles be found?” Though religiosity (dharma) and knowledge (jnana) depart with Krishna when He leaves the material world, those living in the subsequent age of darkness can illuminate their lives by reading Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Suta Goswami thus highlights the compelling power of hearing Srimad- Bhagavatam. One who receives it with open ears and an open heart, is gifted with a profound understanding of Bhagavan (the Supreme Lord) and the process of bhakti (devotional service to Him), and simultaneously experiences a purification of heart that raises one to the platform of pure devotion.