• What the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is to the Vaiṣṇavas, the Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam is to the Śāktas. • Though classified as an upa-purāṇa it is the only Purāṇa Vedavyāsa called Mahā-Purāṇa, meaning great Purāṇa • The choice of words by the great ṛṣi obviously indicates its importance, as Divine Mother is described in all major śāstras as the One Supreme beyond and above the trinities and all Gods. • Śaunaka ṛṣi: senior president of the assembly of sages at Naimiṣāraṇya • viśvasan-kṣetra: trusted or reliable place • Naimiṣāraṇya-vāna: sacred forest free from influence of Kaliyuga • Sūta Gosvāmī: disciple of Vedavyāsa, son of Romaharṣana-Sūta, who was killed with a blade of grass for offending Balarāma • Saumya: moonlike (Soma), placid, gentle, mild: "O gentle Sir!" "O good Sir!" "O excellent man!" as the proper mode of addressing a Brāhmaṇa • three guṇas: sāttvik, rājasik and tāmasik, described in detail in Bhagavad-gita chapters 13, 14, 17 & 18 • transcendental sentiments (rasas): ecstatic emotional flavors of relationship with the Supreme in any form—neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parenthood and conjugal love. See Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Part 2: http://www.mediafire.com/file/94owo1ouwj8ls3i/Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-Part2.pdf/file