Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
श्रीशुक उवाच अथ ह तमुत्पत्त्यैवाभिव्यज्यमानभगवल्लक्षणं साम्योपशमवैराग्यैश्वर्यमहाविभूतिभिरनुदिनमेधमानानुभावं प्रकृतय: प्रजा ब्राह्मणा देवताश्चावनितलसमवनायातितरां जगृधु: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca atha ha tam utpattyaivābhivyajyamāna-bhagaval-lakṣaṇaṁ sāmyopaśama-vairāgyaiśvarya-mahā-vibhūtibhir anudinam edhamānānubhāvaṁ prakṛtayaḥ prajā brāhmaṇā devatāś cāvani-tala-samavanāyātitarāṁ jagṛdhuḥ.
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: Sobald der Herr als Sohn Mahārāja Nābhis geboren war, zeigten sich die Merkmale der höchsten Gottheit, wie die Zeichen auf den Fußsohlen. Er war allen gegenüber gleich, friedvoll, Herr über Sinne und Geist; und obwohl Er alle Opulenz besaß, begehrte Er keinen materiellen Genuss. Seine Macht wuchs von Tag zu Tag; daher wünschten Bürger, Brāhmaṇas, Devas und Minister, Ṛṣabhadeva als Herrscher der Erde einzusetzen.
In these days of cheap incarnations, it is very interesting to note the bodily symptoms found in an incarnation. From the very beginning of His birth, it was observed that Ṛṣabhadeva’s feet were marked with the transcendental signs (a flag, thunderbolt, lotus flower, etc.). In addition to this, as the Lord began to grow He became very prominent. He was equal to everyone. He did not favor one person and neglect another. An incarnation of God must have the six opulences — wealth, strength, knowledge, beauty, fame and renunciation. It is said that although Ṛṣabhadeva was endowed with all opulences, He was not at all attached to material enjoyment. He was self-controlled and therefore liked by everyone. Due to His superexcellent qualities, everyone wanted Him to rule the earth. An incarnation of God has to be accepted by experienced people and by the symptoms described in the śāstras. An incarnation is not accepted simply by the adulation of foolish people.
FAQs
This verse highlights divine traits visible from birth—equanimity (sāmya), self-control (upaśama), detachment (vairāgya), and lordly opulence (aiśvarya)—showing the unmistakable marks of Bhagavān.
Because His growing spiritual potency and ideal qualities indicated He could restore order and safeguard dharma, they longed for His guardianship of the world.
Practice steadiness amid success and failure (sāmya) and reduce unhealthy attachment to status and possessions (vairāgya), using power or responsibility as service rather than ego.