Shloka 2
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
तस्य ह वा इत्थं वर्ष्मणा वरीयसा बृहच्छ्लोकेन चौजसा बलेन श्रिया यशसा वीर्यशौर्याभ्यां च पिता ऋषभ इतीदं नाम चकार ॥ २ ॥
tasya ha vā itthaṁ varṣmaṇā varīyasā bṛhac-chlokena caujasā balena śriyā yaśasā vīrya-śauryābhyāṁ ca pitā ṛṣabha itīdaṁ nāma cakāra.
When Mahārāja Nābhi’s son became visible, He displayed all the noble qualities praised by great poets—an excellent form, vast renown, vigor, strength, beauty, prosperity, fame, influence, and heroic valor. Seeing this, His father Nābhi, deeming Him the best, gave Him the name Ṛṣabha.
To accept someone as God or an incarnation of God, one must observe the symptoms of God in his body. All the symptoms were found in the body of Mahārāja Nābhi’s extraordinarily powerful son. His body was well structured, and He displayed all the transcendental qualities. He showed great influence, and He could control His mind and senses. Consequently He was named Ṛṣabha, which indicates that He was the supreme living being.
FAQs
This verse states that Ṛṣabhadeva exhibited exceptional stature, splendor, widespread fame, brilliance, strength, prosperity, renown, valor, and heroism—signs of extraordinary, divine greatness.
Because the child was clearly superior in many auspicious qualities; seeing these signs, his father bestowed the name “Ṛṣabha,” meaning the foremost or best among beings.
It teaches to recognize and honor genuine excellence and virtue, and to value strength, prosperity, and fame when they are aligned with dharma and meant for higher purpose—not mere ego.