In the great Naimasharaya forest, in the assembly of the exalted rishis headed by Rishi Śaunaka, the perfect one – Śrī Sūta Gosvāmi recited to them – the Bhāgavat Purāna as sung by Śrī Sukadeva Goswami to Maharaj Parikshit on the banks of Ma Ganga near Hastinapur, amidst the greatest confluence of enlightened sages from all over the universe. Śrī Sukadeva, a self-realized perfect soul – an Avadhuta, narrated the greatest of purana when only 16 years old, but more learned than all the realized rishis present. Śrī Sukadeva studied the Bhāgavatam through upanishad from his father, compiler of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam – Bhagvān Veda Vyāsadeva (Bādarayana), Lord’s avataar.

“At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga, I studied this great supplement of Vedic literature named Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is equal to all the Vedas, from my father, Śrīla Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva.”

~ Śrī Sukadeva Goswami, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.8)

This (idaṁ) scripture (purāṇaṁ) named (nāma) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (bhāgavataṁ ) is the literary incarnation (brahma-sammitam) of God (uttama-śloka-caritaṁ), and it is compiled (cakāra) by Śrīla Vyāsadeva (ṛṣiḥ), the incarnation of God (bhagavān). It is meant for the ultimate good (niḥśreyasāya) of all people (lokasya), and it is all-successful (dhanyaṁ), all-blissful (svasty-ayanaṁ) and all-perfect (mahat).

~ Sūta Gosvāmi in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.40)

As God is all light, all bliss and all perfection, so also is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One can derive from its study all benefits that are possible to be derived from the personal presence of the Lord. It carries with it all the transcendental blessings of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa that we can expect from His personal contact. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam should be worshiped as respectfully as we worship the Lord.

Spotless, Unlimited, Lord Krsna’s Representative!
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has declared that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless (amalam) representation of all Vedic knowledge and history. What can be said more about this maha-purana? It is directly the Lord Himself – Krishna, Uttama-śloka in His absolute literary incarnation.

Mahaprabhu while giving confidential instructions to Sanatana Goswami says – “Just try to understand the real nature of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is the sound representation of the Supreme Lord Krishna; therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam is not different from Krishna. Krishna is unlimited, and similarly, each word and letter of Srimad-Bhagavatam has unlimited meanings. One can understand these meanings through the association of devotees. Don’t, then, say that Bhagavatam is simply a collection of answers to questions.”

And so, the most confidential nature of the Bhāgavatam can be experienced only by the mercy of Krishna, for who but Him can make us understand Krishna. For knowing Him, what else remains to be known? Then, who can understand Bhagvān or Bhagavatam? Lord Shiva beautifully summaries, “As far as Bhagavatam is concerned, I may know it, or Sukadeva or Vyasadeva may know it, or we may not know it — but actually Bhagavatam is to be understood by devotional service and from a devotee, and not by one’s own intelligence or by academic commentaries.”

Bhagavatam..the Shelter of all Dharma
The glory and greatness of Bhagavatam can be understood by the sincere inquiries of the sages of Naimasharaya. They made 6 key perfect inquiries to their master, Sūta Gosvāmi about Lord Krishna, His leelas, and about the absolute good for the mankind. Their 6th question is:

brūhi yogeśvare kṛṣṇe     brahmaṇye dharma-varmaṇi
svāṁ kāṣṭhām adhunopete     dharmaḥ kaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

“Since Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth (brahmaṇye), the master of all mystic powers (yoga-īśvare), and the protector (varmaṇi) of all religion (dharma), has departed for His own abode (svāṁ kāṣṭhām), please tell us (brūhi) to whom (kam) the religious principles (dharma) have now gone (gataḥ) for shelter (śaraṇam).”

~ Sages to Sūta Gosvāmi, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.23)

Suta Gosvami, the knower of Bhagavata, perfectly satisfied with this inquiry, revealed the shelter place of all auspicious, absolute Truth in the form of dharma, jnana as…

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate   dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām      eṣa purāṇārko ‘dhunoditaḥ

“This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun (purāṇa-arkaḥ), and it has arisen (uditaḥ) just now (adhunā) after the departure (upagate) of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode (sva-dhāma), accompanied (saha) by religion (dharma), knowledge (jñāna), etc (ādibhiḥ). Persons (eṣaḥ) who have lost their vision (naṣṭa-dṛśām) due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali (in the Kali-yuga) shall get light from this Purāṇa.”

~ Sūta Gosvāmi , Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.43)