so ’haṁ nṛṇāṁ kṣulla-sukhāya duḥkhaṁ

so ’haṁ nṛṇāṁ kṣulla-sukhāya duḥkhaṁ

mahad gatānāṁ viramāya tasya

pravartaye bhāgavataṁ purāṇaṁ

yad āha sākṣād bhagavān ṛṣibhyaḥ

 

I explain this Bhāgavata Purāṇa, spoke by the Lord to the sages, for removing the suffering of persons who have fallen into great distress by seeking insignificant happiness.

The answers to all of your questions are found in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. I will tell you the glories of this work. That famous disciple of Parāśara (saḥ), I (aham) spoke this work to remove the suffering of hell (tasya) for men who have fallen into great distress for insignificant material pleasure. You have said:

 

sukhāya karmāṇi karoti loko

na taiḥ sukhaṁ vānyad-upāramaṁ vā

vindeta bhūyas tata eva duḥkhaṁ

yad atra yuktaṁ bhagavān vaden naḥ

 

O sage! Men in this world engage in action for material happiness, but do not attain happiness and do not destroy distress. Nor do they become detached. Rather by this, they increase their suffering. You know everything. Therefore please tell my about this. SB 3.5.2

 

This Bhāgavatam is a suitable answer to your first question.

|| 3.8.3 ||

āsīnam urvyāṁ bhagavantam ādyaṁ

saṅkarṣaṇaṁ devam akuṇṭha-sattvam

vivitsavas tattvam ataḥ parasya

kumāra-mukhyā munayo ’nvapṛcchan

 

One time the sages headed by Sanat-kumāra, being philosophically inquisitive, with a desire to know the nature of Vāsudeva, asked questions to Saṅkarṣaṇa who has indestructible knowledge, who was situated below Pātālaloka.

 

This verse explains which form of the Lord spoke to which sages, and seven verses then explain how Maitreya got the knowledge. Akuṇṭha-sattvam means a body of śuddha-sattva or indestructible knowledge. They asked Saṅkarṣaṇa about Vāsudeva (parasya).

|| 3.8.4 ||

svam eva dhiṣṇyaṁ bahu mānayantaṁ