The six questions of the Naimisaranya sages

The six questions

1. What is the ultimate benefit for mankind?

2. What is the essence of all scriptures?

3. For what reason did the Lord take His birth from Devaki?

4. Describe the wonderful deeds of the Lord when He assumed the forms of Brahma, Rudra, etc, for the purpose of creating, maintaining, and destroying the universe.

5. Fully describe the activities of Lord Hari’s incarnations within this universe.

6. Where has religion taken shelter after Krsna has retired to His own abode?

 

Question One (1.1.9):
What is the absolute and ultimate good (sreyah) for people in general?

Answer:
After describing that devotional service to Sri Krsna was the essence of the scriptures, Suta explains that the ultimate benefit for people in general is to become free from material bondage and develop love of God through devotional service offered only to Krsna or His plenary parts.
(Especially SB 1.2.6- 7, but also until verse 27)

 

Question Two: (1.1.11):
What is the essence of all scriptures?

Answer:
Throughout the Second Chapter of the Bhagavatam and especially in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6-7, and continuing on to text 28, Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is confirmed as the only object of worship, and establishing one’s lost relationship with Him in love and service through devotional service is proclaimed as sum and substance of the Vedic literatures.

 

Question Three (1.1.12):
Tell why Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared (verse 13 may be included here – see purport).

Answer:
This question is answered in 1.2.34, “to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.”
In addition, this question is answered in 1.8.35, 9.4.61, 10.8.48-50, and 10.33.37.

 

Question Four (1.1.17):
Describe the activities of the incarnations of the Lord.

Answer:
The Lord’s incarnations are described in Chapter Three of the First Canto. More detailed descriptions of the incarnations are recounted throughout the remainder of the Bhagavatam.

 

Question Five (1.1.18):
Tell us of the acts of Lord performs in relationship to creating the material world. (See purport).

Answer:
This question is answered in 1.2.30-33, wherein the Bhagavatam explains how Vasudeva creates the material substance and enters into it as the Purusa incarnations. In addition, Cantos Three and Four relate the creation of the universe and its population by all species.

 

Question Six (1.1.23):
Where have religious principles gone after Krsna’s disappearance from this planet?

Answer:
Suta Goswami answers this question in SB 1.3.43 by declaring, “This Bhagavat Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.”