6 questions

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Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

Here is a bit more from the VIHE:

 

Regarding the six questions of the sages, in his commentary on Srimad

Bhagavatam 1.2.1, Visvanath Cakravarti Thakura has summarized the six

questions that the sages of Naimisaranya asked Suta Gosvami as follows:

 

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?

 

Srila Jiva Gosvami has commented that of these six questions, four are

answered in Chapter Two and two are answered in Chapter Three.

 

Here are the questions and the place in which they are answered according to

two commentators on the Bhagavatam:

 

Question One (1.1.9): What is the absolute and ultimate good (sreyah) for

people in general?

 

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?

 

Throughout the Second Chapter of the Bhagavatam and especially in SB

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.

 

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) Tell us of the acts of Lord performs in relationship

to creating the material world.

 

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 explain the creation of the

universe.

 

Question Five (1.1.18)(JG:1.1.18 and again in 1.1.19-20): Describe the

activities of the incarnations of the Lord.

 

The Lord's incarnations are described within the Chapter Three of the First

Canto. Descriptions of the incarnations are expanded throughout the

remainder of the Bhagavatam.

 

Question Six (1.1.23): Where have religious principles gone after Krsna's

disappearance from this planet?

 

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."

 

 

 

Your servant apd