SB 1.1.4

नैमिषेऽनिमिषक्षेत्रे ईशयः शौनकादयः ।
सत्रं स्वर्गाय लोकाय सहस्रसममासत ॥४॥

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

naimiṣeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignaimiṣe

in the forest known as Naimiṣāraṇya.—in the forest known as Naimiṣāraṇya; animiṣaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biganimiṣa

invincible time; unblinking; without blinking.-kṣetreplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkṣetre

at Jagannātha-kṣetra (Jagannātha Purī); at the place of pilgrimage; in the land; in the wife; in the wives and maidservant; in this tract of land; to Jagannātha Purī.—the spot which is especially a favorite of Viṣṇu (who does not close His eyelids); ṛṣayaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigrsayah

all learned ṛṣis, saintly persons; all the ṛṣis; all the great saintly persons; all the sages; all the saintly persons; all the saintly sages; great sages; great sages and saintly persons; great saintly persons; great saintly persons like Mārkaṇḍeya; great saintly sages; great saints; learned scholars; O great sages; sages; sages who perform such sacrifices; saintly persons; the great ṛṣis such as Bhṛgu; the great sages; the great sages and saintly persons; the great saintly persons; the great saintly sages; the learned sages; the sages (in the forest); the sages; the seven ṛṣis; the seven ṛṣis of the seven planets; the seven famous sages; the seven sages; those who are active within; very saintly persons.—sages; śaunakaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigśaunaka

headed by the sage Śaunaka.-ādayaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigādayaḥ

all of them surrounding Lord Indra; all these together; and other creatures; and others; and so on; and such others; etc; headed by; others; such persons.—headed by the sage Śaunaka; satramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsatram

sacrifice; the sacrifice.—sacrifice; svargāyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsvargāya

the Lord who is glorified in heaven.—the Lord who is glorified in heaven; lokāyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biglokaya

show.—and for the devotees who are always in touch with the Lord; sahasraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsahasra

a thousand; many thousands; of thousands; one thousand; thousand; thousands; thousands and thousands; thousands of.—one thousand; samamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsamam

accompanied by; along with; equal; equal in all respects; equal to you; equality; equally; equally as important as Yaśodā and Rohiṇī; equally merciful; equally situated, or equipoised; equipoised; equity; impartial; in concert; in equanimity; level; similarly; simultaneously (from the upper planets); straight; the same; with; without distinction; years.—years; āsataplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigasata

by you, the most sinful; most mischievous; with something that is not an actual fact; with the manifestation of unreality or illusion.—performed. ¶

Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimiṣāraṇya, great sages headed by the sage Śaunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees. ¶

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. ¶

In the Vāyavīya Tantra, it is said that Brahmā, the engineer of this particular universe, contemplated a great wheel which could enclose the universe. The hub of this great circle was fixed at a particular place known as Naimiṣāraṇya. Similarly, there is another reference to the forest of Naimiṣāraṇya in the Varāha Purāṇa, where it is stated that by performance of sacrifice at this place, the strength of demoniac people is curtailed. Thus brāhmaṇas prefer Naimiṣāraṇya for such sacrificial performances. ¶

The devotees of Lord Viṣṇu offer all kinds of sacrifices for His pleasure. The devotees are always attached to the service of the Lord, whereas fallen souls are attached to the pleasures of material existence. In Bhagavad-gītā, it is said that anything performed in the material world for any reason other than for the pleasure of Lord Viṣṇu causes further bondage for the performer. It is enjoined therefore that all acts must be performed sacrificially for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu and His devotees. This will bring everyone peace and prosperity. ¶

The great sages are always anxious to do good to the people in general, and as such the sages headed by Śaunaka and others assembled at this holy place of Naimiṣāraṇya with a program of performing a great and continuous chain of sacrificial ceremonies. Forgetful men do not know the right path for peace and prosperity. However, the sages know it well, and therefore for the good of all men they are always anxious to perform acts which may bring about peace in the world. They are sincere friends to all living entities, and at the risk of great personal inconvenience they are always engaged in the service of the Lord for the good of all people. Lord Viṣṇu is just like a great tree, and all others, including the demigods, men, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Vidyādharas and other living entities, are like branches, twigs and leaves of that tree. By pouring water on the root of the tree, all the parts of the tree are automatically nourished. Only those branches and leaves which are detached cannot be so satisfied. Detached branches and leaves dry up gradually despite all watering attempts. Similarly, human society, when it is detached from the Personality of Godhead like detached branches and leaves, is not capable of being watered, and one attempting to do so is simply wasting his energy and resources. ¶

The modern materialistic society is detached from its relation to the Supreme Lord. And all its plans which are being made by atheistic leaders are sure to be baffled at every step. Yet they do not wake up to this. ¶

In this age, the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord is the prescribed method for waking up. The ways and means are most scientifically presented by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and intelligent persons may take advantage of His teachings in order to bring about real peace and prosperity. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also presented for the same purpose, and this will be explained more specifically later in the text. ¶