Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 31
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
अतिसुकुमारकरचरणोर:स्थलविपुलबाह्वंसगलवदनाद्यवयवविन्यास: प्रकृतिसुन्दरस्वभावहाससुमुखो नवनलिनदलायमानशिशिरतारारुणायतनयनरुचिर: सदृशसुभगकपोलकर्णकण्ठनासो विगूढस्मितवदनमहोत्सवेन पुरवनितानां मनसि कुसुमशरासनमुपदधान: परागवलम्बमानकुटिलजटिलकपिशकेशभूरिभारोऽवधूतमलिननिजशरीरेण ग्रहगृहीत इवादृश्यत ॥ ३१ ॥
ati-sukumāra-kara-caraṇoraḥ-sthala-vipula-bāhv-aṁsa-gala-vadanādy-avayava-vinyāsaḥ prakṛti-sundara-svabhāva-hāsa-sumukho nava-nalina-dalāyamāna-śiśira-tārāruṇāyata-nayana-ruciraḥ sadṛśa-subhaga-kapola-karṇa-kaṇṭha-nāso vigūḍha-smita-vadana-mahotsavena pura-vanitānāṁ manasi kusuma-śarāsanam upadadhānaḥ parāg-avalambamāna-kuṭila-jaṭila-kapiśa-keśa-bhūri-bhāro ’vadhūta-malina-nija-śarīreṇa graha-gṛhīta ivādṛśyata.
Die Hände, Füße und die Brust des Herrn Ṛṣabhadeva waren lang; Schultern, Antlitz und Glieder waren äußerst zart und vollkommen ausgewogen. Sein natürliches Lächeln schmückte sein Gesicht; seine weit geöffneten, rötlich schimmernden Augen glichen den Blättern eines jungen Lotus, vom Morgentau gekühlt, und allein ihr Anblick nahm den Menschen ihre Bedrängnis. Stirn, Ohren, Hals, Nase und alle Züge waren von großer Schönheit; sein sanftes Lächeln zog sogar die Herzen verheirateter Frauen an, als wären sie von den Pfeilen Kāmas getroffen. Auf seinem Haupt lag eine Fülle brauner, lockiger, verfilzter Haare; weil sein Körper ungepflegt und schmutzig war, waren sie zerzaust, sodass er wie von einem Geist heimgesucht erschien.
Although Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s body was very much neglected, His transcendental features were so attractive that even married women were attracted to Him. His beauty and dirtiness combined to make His beautiful body appear as though it were haunted by a ghost.
FAQs
This verse says Ṛṣabhadeva was naturally and divinely beautiful, yet He kept His body neglected and unclean like a renunciant, so people perceived Him as if “seized by a ghost,” highlighting His deliberate transcendence of social norms.
Śukadeva presents the contrast to show that Ṛṣabhadeva is beyond bodily identity: His spiritual splendor is inherent, while His avadhūta-like neglect of the body teaches detachment and indifference to worldly judgment.
Cultivate inner purity and devotion rather than obsessing over external validation—use beauty, talent, or charisma responsibly, but practice humility and detachment from image, status, and public opinion.