There were six questions put by the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya to Sūta Gosvāmī, and Sūta Gosvāmī answered the six questions in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There is a verse in the Vedic literature in which Lord Śiva says, “As far as the Bhāgavatam is concerned, I may know it, or Śukadeva or Vyāsadeva may know it, or we may not know it—but actually Bhāgavatam is to be understood by devotional service and from a devotee, and not by one's own intelligence or by academic commentaries.” At the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.23) the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya asked Sūta Gosvāmī:
- brūhi yogeśvare kṛṣṇe brahmaṇye dharma-varmaṇi
- svāṁ kāṣṭhām adhunopete dharmaḥ kaṁśaraṇaṁ gataḥ
"My dear sir, now that the Lord has departed for His own abode, kindly tell us whether the principles of religion have gone with Him. How can we find such principles after His departure?"
The reply was given in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.43):
- kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
- kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa purāṇārko ’dhunoditaḥ
"After Kṛṣṇa departed to His abode with all religious principles, His representation, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Mahā-Purāṇa, remains as the blazing, illuminating sun."
Lord Caitanya then told Sanātana Gosvāmī: "I was just like a madman in describing this ātmārāma verse in so many ways. Do not mind if I have said something mad. But if someone becomes a madman like Me, he can understand the real meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as I have explained it."
Then Sanātana Gosvāmī, with folded hands, fell at the feet of Lord Caitanya and prayed as follows: "My dear Lord, You have asked me to prepare a book on the regulative principles of devotional service, but I belong to the lowest caste. I have no knowledge. I do not know how such an important task can be finished by me. If You will kindly give me some hints about the preparation of such a book on devotional service, it may be that I shall be qualified to write it."