Shloka 1
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 said: As soon as the Lord was born as Mahārāja Nābhi’s son, the signs of the Supreme appeared, such as the emblems on His soles. He was equal to all, peaceful, master of mind and senses; though endowed with all opulence, He had no thirst for material enjoyment. His potency increased day by day, and thus the citizens, brāhmaṇas, devas, and ministers desired that Ṛṣabhadeva be installed as ruler of the earth.
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.