PURPORT

The sages assembled in the forest of Naimisharanya enquired from Suta Goswami about the birth of Maharaj Parikshit but in course of the narration other topics like the release of Brahmastra by the son of Drona, his punishment by Arjuna, Queen Kuntidevi's prayers thereafter, the Pandavas' visit to the place where Bhismadeva was lying, his prayers and thereafter the Lord's departure for Dwarka, His arrival at Dwarka and residing with the sixteen thousands of queens etc. were all attractive narrations of the pastimes of the Lord. So long they were absorbed in the matter of hearing such descriptions, but now they wanted to turn to the original topic and thus the enquiry was made by Sounaka Rishi. It begins again with the release of the Brahmastra weapon by Aswathwama.