Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 36
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
स एवमपरिमितबलपराक्रम एकदा तु देवर्षिचरणानुशयनानुपतितगुणविसर्गसंसर्गेणानिर्वृतमिवात्मानं मन्यमान आत्मनिर्वेद इदमाह ॥ ३६ ॥
sa evam aparimita-bala-parākrama ekadā tu devarṣi-caraṇānuśayanānu-patita-guṇa-visarga-saṁsargeṇānirvṛtam ivātmānaṁ manyamāna ātma-nirveda idam āha.
Thus, though endowed with immeasurable strength and prowess, Mahārāja Priyavrata once reflected: although he had surrendered at the feet of the devarṣi Nārada and was on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, by association with the outflow of the guṇas he had somehow become entangled again in material affairs. His mind grew restless, and he began to speak in a mood of renunciation.
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17) it is said:
FAQs
This verse describes ātma-nirveda as the mood in which Ṛṣabhadeva, seeing the dissatisfaction caused by contact with the guṇas (material modes), speaks from a place of deep dispassion meant to awaken renunciation and devotion.
The verse says “as if” (iva): it indicates a teaching-līlā. Ṛṣabhadeva outwardly accepts the appearance of dissatisfaction produced by guṇa-saṅga to instruct conditioned souls about the danger of material association and the need for detachment.
Reduce guṇa-saṅga by regulating sense life, keeping saintly association, and anchoring the mind in bhakti—hearing and chanting—so that inner contentment replaces restless material craving.