Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 5 · Chapter 6

The Activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva

5.6.1

ऋषिरुवाच सत्यमुक्तं किन्‍त्विह वा एके न मनसोऽद्धा विश्रम्भमनवस्थानस्य शठकिरात इव सङ्गच्छन्ते ॥ २ ॥

rajovaca na nunam bhagava atmaramanam yoga-samirita-jnanavabharjita-karma-bijanam aisvaryani punah klesadani bhavitum arhanti yadrc-chayopagatani.

King Pariksit asked Sukadeva Gosvami: My dear Lord, for those who are completely pure in heart, knowledge is attained by the practice of bhakti-yoga, and attachment for fruitive activity is completely burned to ashes. For such people, the powers of mystic yoga automatically arise. They do not cause distress. Why, then, did Rsabhadeva neglect them?

5.6.2

rsir uvaca satyam uktam kintv iha va eke na manaso ’ddha visrambham anavasthanasya satha-kirata iva sangacchante.

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami replied: My dear King, you have spoken correctly. However, after capturing animals, a cunning hunter does not put faith in them, for they might run away. Similarly, those who are advanced in spiritual life do not put faith in the mind. Indeed, they always remain vigilant and watch the mind’s action.

5.6.3

तथा चोक्तम्— न कुर्यात्कर्हिचित्सख्यं मनसि ह्यनवस्थिते । यद्विश्रम्भाच्चिराच्चीर्णं चस्कन्द तप ऐश्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥

tatha coktam—— na kuryat karhicit sakhyam manasi hy anavasthite yad-visrambhac cirac cirnam caskanda tapa aisvaram

All the learned scholars have given their opinion. The mind is by nature very restless, and one should not make friends with it. If we place full confidence in the mind, it may cheat us at any moment. Even Lord Siva became agitated upon seeing the Mohini form of Lord Krsna, and Saubhari Muni also fell down from the mature stage of yogic perfection.

5.6.4

नित्यं ददाति कामस्यच्छिद्रं तमनु येऽरय: । योगिन: कृतमैत्रस्य पत्युर्जायेव पुंश्चली ॥ ४ ॥

nityam dadati kamasya cchidram tam anu ye ’rayah yoginah krta-maitrasya patyur jayeva pumscali

An unchaste woman is very easily carried away by paramours, and it sometimes happens that her husband is violently killed by her paramours. If the yogi gives his mind a chance and does not restrain it, his mind will give facility to enemies like lust, anger and greed, and they will doubtlessly kill the yogi.

5.6.5

कामो मन्युर्मदो लोभ: शोकमोहभयादय: । कर्मबन्धश्च यन्मूल: स्वीकुर्यात्को नु तद् बुध: ॥ ५ ॥

kamo manyur mado lobhah soka-moha-bhayadayah karma-bandhas ca yan-mulah svikuryat ko nu tad budhah

The mind is the root cause of lust, anger, pride, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear. Combined, these constitute bondage to fruitive activity. What learned man would put faith in the mind?

5.6.6

अथैवमखिललोकपालललामोऽपि विलक्षणैर्जडवदवधूतवेषभाषाचरितैरविलक्षितभगवत्प्रभावो योगिनां साम्परायविधिमनुशिक्षयन् स्वकलेवरं जिहासुरात्मन्यात्मानमसंव्यवहितमनर्थान्तरभावेनान्वीक्षमाण उपरतानुवृत्तिरुपरराम ॥ ६ ॥

athaivam akhila-loka-pala-lalamo ’pi vilaksanair jadavad avadhuta-vesa-bhasa-caritair avilaksita-bhagavat-prabhavo yoginam samparaya-vidhim anusiksayan sva-kalevaram jihasur atmany atmanam asamvyavahitam anarthantara-bhavenanviksamana uparatanuvrttir upararama.

Lord Rsabhadeva was the head of all kings and emperors within this universe, but assuming the dress and language of an avadhuta, He acted as if dull and materially bound. Consequently no one could observe His divine opulence. He adopted this behavior just to teach yogis how to give up the body. Nonetheless, He maintained His original position as a plenary expansion of Lord Vasudeva, Krsna. Remaining always in that state, He gave up His pastimes as Lord Rsabhadeva within the material world. If, following in the footsteps of Lord Rsabhadeva, one can give up his subtle body, there is no chance that one will accept a material body again.

5.6.7

तस्य ह वा एवं मुक्तलिङ्गस्य भगवत ऋषभस्य योगमायावासनया देह इमां जगतीमभिमानाभासेन सङ्‍क्रममाण: कोङ्कवेङ्ककुटकान्दक्षिणकर्णाटकान्देशान् यद‍ृच्छयोपगत: कुटकाचलोपवन आस्यकृताश्मकवल उन्माद इव मुक्तमूर्धजोऽसंवीत एव विचचार ॥ ७ ॥

tasya ha va evam mukta-lingasya bhagavata rsabhasya yogamaya-vasanaya deha imam jagatim abhimanabhasena sankramamanah konka-venka-kutakan daksina-karnatakan desan yadrcchayopagatah kutakacalopavana asya krtasma-kavala unmada iva mukta-murdhajo ’samvita eva vicacara.

Actually Lord Rsabhadeva had no material body, but due to yogamaya, He considered His body material, and therefore, because He played like an ordinary human being, He gave up the mentality of identifying with it. Following this principle, He began to wander all over the world. While traveling, He came to the province of Karnata in South India and passed through Konka, Venka and Kutaka. He had no plan to travel this way, but He arrived near Kutakacala and entered a forest there. He placed stones within His mouth and began to wander through the forest, naked and with His hair disheveled like a madman.

5.6.8

अथ समीरवेगविधूतवेणुविकर्षणजातोग्रदावानलस्तद्वनमालेलिहान: सह तेन ददाह ॥ ८ ॥

atha samira-vega-vidhuta-venu-vikarsana-jatogra-davanalas tad vanam alelihanah saha tena dadaha.

While He was wandering about, a wild forest fire began. This fire was caused by the friction of bamboos, which were being blown by the wind. In that fire, the entire forest near Kutakacala and the body of Lord Rsabhadeva were burnt to ashes.

5.6.9

यस्य किलानुचरितमुपाकर्ण्य कोङ्कवेङ्ककुटकानां राजार्हन्नामोपशिक्ष्य कलावधर्म उत्कृष्यमाणे भवितव्येन विमोहित: स्वधर्मपथमकुतोभयमपहाय कुपथपाखण्डमसमञ्जसं निजमनीषया मन्द: सम्प्रवर्तयिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

yasya kilanucaritam upakarnya konka-venka-kutakanam rajarhan-namopasiksya kalav adharma utkrsyamane bhavitavyena vimohitah sva-dharma-patham akuto-bhayam apahaya kupatha-pakhandam asamanjasam nija-manisaya mandah sampravartayisyate.

Sukadeva Gosvami continued speaking to Maharaja Pariksit: My dear King, the King of Konka, Venka and Kutaka whose name was Arhat, heard of the activities of Rsabhadeva and, imitating Rsabhadeva’s principles, introduced a new system of religion. Taking advantage of Kali-yuga, the age of sinful activity, King Arhat, being bewildered, gave up the Vedic principles, which are free from risk, and concocted a new system of religion opposed to the Vedas. That was the beginning of the Jain dharma. Many other so-called religions followed this atheistic system.

5.6.10

येन ह वाव कलौ मनुजापसदा देवमायामोहिता: स्वविधिनियोगशौचचारित्रविहीना देवहेलनान्यपव्रतानि निजनिजेच्छया गृह्णाना अस्‍नानानाचमनाशौचकेशोल्लुञ्चनादीनि कलिनाधर्मबहुलेनोपहतधियो ब्रह्मब्राह्मणयज्ञपुरुषलोकविदूषका: प्रायेण भविष्यन्ति ॥ १० ॥

yena ha vava kalau manujapasada deva-maya-mohitah sva-vidhi-niyoga-sauca-caritra-vihina deva-helanany apavratani nija-nijecchaya grhnana asnananacamanasauca-kesolluncanadini kalinadharma-bahulenopahata-dhiyo brahma-brahmana-yajna-purusa-loka-vidusakah prayena bhavisyanti.

People who are lowest among men and bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord will give up the original varnasrama-dharma and its rules and regulations. They will abandon bathing three times daily and worshiping the Lord. Abandoning cleanliness and neglecting the Supreme Lord, they will accept nonsensical principles. Not regularly bathing or washing their mouths regularly, they will always remain unclean, and they will pluck out their hair. Following a concocted religion, they will flourish. During this age of Kali, people are more inclined to irreligious systems. Consequently these people will naturally deride Vedic authority, the followers of Vedic authority, the brahmanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotees.

5.6.11

ते च ह्यर्वाक्तनया निजलोकयात्रयान्धपरम्परयाऽऽश्वस्तास्तमस्यन्धे स्वयमेव प्रपतिष्यन्ति ॥ ११ ॥

te ca hy arvaktanaya nija-loka-yatrayandha-paramparayasvastas tamasy andhe svayam eva prapatisyanti.

Low-class people, due to their gross ignorance, introduce a system of religion that deviates from the Vedic principles. Following their own mental concoctions, they automatically fall down into the darkest regions of existence.

5.6.12

अयमवतारो रजसोपप्लुतकैवल्योपशिक्षणार्थ: ॥ १२ ॥

ayam avataro rajasopapluta-kaivalyopasiksanarthah.

In this age of Kali, people are overwhelmed by the modes of passion and ignorance. Lord Rsabhadeva incarnated Himself to deliver them from the clutches of maya.

5.6.13

तस्यानुगुणान् श्लोकान् गायन्ति— अहो भुव: सप्तसमुद्रवत्या द्वीपेषु वर्षेष्वधिपुण्यमेतत् । गायन्ति यत्रत्यजना मुरारे: कर्माणि भद्राण्यवतारवन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

tasyanugunan slokan gayanti—— aho bhuvah sapta-samudravatya dvipesu varsesv adhipunyam etat gayanti yatratya-jana murareh karmani bhadrany avataravanti

Learned scholars chant about the transcendental qualities of Lord Rsabhadeva in this way: Oh, this earthly plane contains seven seas and many islands and lands, of which Bharata-varsa is considered the most pious. People of Bharata-varsa are accustomed to glorifying the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnations as Lord Rsabhadeva and others. All these activities are very auspicious for the welfare of humanity.

5.6.14

अहो नु वंशो यशसावदात: प्रैयव्रतो यत्र पुमान् पुराण: । कृतावतार: पुरुष: स आद्य- श्चचार धर्मं यदकर्महेतुम् ॥ १४ ॥

aho nu vamso yasasavadatah praiyavrato yatra puman puranah krtavatarah purusah sa adyas cacara dharmam yad akarma-hetum

Oh, what shall I say of the dynasty of Priyavrata, which is pure and very much celebrated. In that dynasty, the Supreme Person, the original Personality of Godhead, descended as an incarnation and executed religious principles that could free one from the results of fruitive activity.

5.6.15

को न्वस्य काष्ठामपरोऽनुगच्छे- न्मनोरथेनाप्यभवस्य योगी । यो योगमाया: स्पृहयत्युदस्ता ह्यसत्तया येन कृतप्रयत्ना: ॥ १५ ॥

ko nv asya kastham aparo ’nugacchen mano-rathenapy abhavasya yogi yo yoga-mayah sprhayaty udasta hy asattaya yena krta-prayatnah

Who is that mystic yogi who can follow the examples of Lord Rsabhadeva even with his mind? Lord Rsabhadeva rejected all kinds of yogic perfection, which other yogis hanker to attain. Who is that yogi who can compare to Lord Rsabhadeva

5.6.16

इति ह स्म सकलवेदलोकदेवब्राह्मणगवां परमगुरोर्भगवत ऋषभाख्यस्य विशुद्धाचरितमीरितं पुंसां समस्तदुश्चरिताभिहरणं परममहामङ्गलायनमिदमनुश्रद्धयोपचितयानुश‍ृणोत्याश्रावयति वावहितो भगवति तस्मिन् वासुदेव एकान्ततो भक्तिरनयोरपि समनुवर्तते ॥ १६ ॥

iti ha sma sakala-veda-loka-deva-brahmana-gavam parama-guror bhagavata rsabhakhyasya visuddhacaritam iritam pumsam samasta-duscaritabhiharanam parama-maha-mangalayanam idam anusraddhayopacitayanusrnoty asravayati vavahito bhagavati tasmin vasudeva ekantato bhaktir anayor api samanuvartate.

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Lord Rsabhadeva is the master of all Vedic knowledge, human beings, demigods, cows and brahmanas. I have already explained His pure, transcendental activities, which will vanquish the sinful activities of all living entities. This narration of Lord Rsabhadeva’s pastimes is the reservoir of all auspicious things. Whoever attentively hears or speaks of them, following in the footsteps of the acaryas, will certainly attain unalloyed devotional service at the lotus feet of Lord Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5.6.17

यस्यामेव कवय आत्मानमविरतं विविधवृजिनसंसारपरितापोपतप्यमानमनुसवनं स्‍नापयन्तस्तयैव परया निर्वृत्या ह्यपवर्गमात्यन्तिकं परमपुरुषार्थमपि स्वयमासादितं नो एवाद्रियन्ते भगवदीयत्वेनैव परिसमाप्तसर्वार्था: ॥ १७ ॥

yasyam eva kavaya atmanam aviratam vividha-vrjina-samsara-paritapopatapyamanam anusavanam snapayantas tayaiva paraya nirvrtya hy apavargam atyantikam parama-purusartham api svayam asaditam no evadriyante bhagavadiyatvenaiva parisamapta-sarvarthah.

Devotees always bathe themselves in devotional service in order to be relieved from the various tribulations of material existence. By doing this, the devotees enjoy supreme bliss, and liberation personified comes to serve them. Nonetheless, they do not accept that service, even if it is offered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. For the devotees, liberation (mukti) is very unimportant because, having attained the Lord’s transcendental loving service, they have attained everything desirable and have transcended all material desires.

5.6.18

राजन् पतिर्गुरुरलं भवतां यदूनां दैवं प्रिय: कुलपति: क्‍व च किङ्करो व: । अस्त्वेवमङ्ग भगवान् भजतां मुकुन्दो मुक्तिं ददाति कर्हिचित्स्म न भक्तियोगम् ॥ १८ ॥

rajan patir gurur alam bhavatam yadunam daivam priyah kula-patih kva ca kinkaro vah astv evam anga bhagavan bhajatam mukundo muktim dadati karhicit sma na bhakti-yogam

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the Supreme Person, Mukunda, is actually the maintainer of all the members of the Pandava and Yadu dynasties. He is your spiritual master, worshipable Deity, friend, and the director of your activities. To say nothing of this, He sometimes serves your family as a messenger or servant. This means He worked just as ordinary servants do. Those engaged in getting the Lord’s favor attain liberation from the Lord very easily, but He does not very easily give the opportunity to render direct service unto Him.

5.6.19

नित्यानुभूतनिजलाभनिवृत्ततृष्ण: श्रेयस्यतद्रचनया चिरसुप्तबुद्धे: । लोकस्य य: करुणयाभयमात्मलोक- माख्यान्नमो भगवते ऋषभाय तस्मै ॥ १९ ॥

nityanubhuta-nija-labha-nivrtta-trsnah sreyasy atad-racanaya cira-supta-buddheh lokasya yah karunayabhayam atma-lokam akhyan namo bhagavate rsabhaya tasmai

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Rsabhadeva, was fully aware of His true identity; therefore He was self-sufficient, and He did not desire external gratification. There was no need for Him to aspire for success, since He was complete in Himself. Those who unnecessarily engage in bodily conceptions and create an atmosphere of materialism are always ignorant of their real self-interest. Out of His causeless mercy, Lord Rsabhadeva taught the self’s real identity and the goal of life. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who appeared as Lord Rsabhadeva.