Shounaka was the name of a famous saint. He was once performing a 12 year long sacrifice when all the saints gathered. One among them was Sootha,whom the house asked for rendition of a sacred discourse. Then he began to narrate the epic of Mahaabhaaratham to theam, as was heard by him while Vyshampaayana was rendering to Janamejaya.
Many of the Indian Puraanams begin with the introduction --" Sootha said to Shounaka and his companion sages ".
This indicates that
Shounaka undertook many such conferences and many stories were narrated to the congress for the benefit of all.