### SB 3.5.17

> श्रीशुक उवाच\
> स एवं भगवान्पृष्टः क्षत्त्रा कौषारवो मुनिः ।\
> पुंसां निःश्रेयसार्थेन तमाह बहुमानयन् ॥१७॥

> śrī-śuka uvāca\
> sa evaṁ bhagavān pṛṣṭaḥ\
> kṣattrā kauṣāravo muniḥ\
> puṁsāṁ niḥśreyasārthena\
> tam āha bahu-mānayan

*śrī-śukaḥ uvāca*—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; *saḥ*—he; *evam*—this; *bhagavān*—the great sage; *pṛṣṭaḥ*—being requested; *kṣattrā*—by Vidura; *kauṣāravaḥ*—Maitreya; *muniḥ*—the great sage; *puṁsām*—for all people; *niḥśreyasa*—for the greatest welfare; *arthena*—for that; *tam*—unto him; *āha*—narrated; *bahu*—greatly; *mānayan*—honored.

**Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The great sage Maitreya Muni, after honoring Vidura very greatly, began to speak, at Vidura's request, for the greatest welfare of all people.**

The great sage Maitreya Muni is described here as *bhagavān* because he surpassed all ordinary human beings in learning and experience. Thus his selection of the greatest welfare service for the world is considered authoritative. The all-inclusive welfare service for the entire human society is devotional service to the Lord, and, as requested by Vidura, the sage described the same very appropriately.