Shloka 5
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
विदितानुरागमापौरप्रकृति जनपदो राजा नाभिरात्मजं समयसेतुरक्षायामभिषिच्य ब्राह्मणेषूपनिधाय सह मेरुदेव्या विशालायां प्रसन्ननिपुणेन तपसा समाधियोगेन नरनारायणाख्यं भगवन्तं वासुदेवमुपासीन: कालेन तन्महिमानमवाप ॥ ५ ॥
viditānurāgam āpaura-prakṛti jana-pado rājā nābhir ātmajaṁ samaya-setu-rakṣāyām abhiṣicya brāhmaṇeṣūpanidhāya saha merudevyā viśālāyāṁ prasanna-nipuṇena tapasā samādhi-yogena nara-nārāyaṇākhyaṁ bhagavantaṁ vāsudevam upāsīnaḥ kālena tan-mahimānam avāpa.
King Nābhi, knowing that his son Ṛṣabhadeva was dearly loved by the citizens and the ministers, enthroned Him as the emperor to protect the people by upholding the boundary of Vedic dharma, and entrusted Him to learned brāhmaṇas for guidance in governance. Then Nābhi Mahārāja, with Merudevī, went to Badarikāśrama in the Himalayas and, with joyful skill, practiced austerity and samādhi-yoga, worshiping Bhagavān Vāsudeva as Nara-Nārāyaṇa; in time he attained the spiritual realm of Vaikuṇṭha.
When Mahārāja Nābhi saw that his son Ṛṣabhadeva was popular with the general populace and the governmental servants, he chose to install Him on the imperial throne. In addition, he wanted to entrust his son into the hands of the learned brāhmaṇas. This means that a monarch was supposed to govern strictly according to Vedic principles under the guidance of learned brāhmaṇas, who could advise Him according to the standard Vedic scriptures like Manu-smṛti and similar śāstras. It is the duty of the king to rule the citizens according to Vedic principles. According to Vedic principles, society is divided into four categories — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ. After dividing society in this way, it is the king’s duty to see that everyone executes Vedic principles according to his caste. A brāhmaṇa must perform the duty of a brāhmaṇa without cheating the public. It is not that one attains the name of a brāhmaṇa without the qualifications. It is the king’s duty to see that everyone engages in his occupational duty according to Vedic principles. In addition, retirement at the end of life is compulsory. Mahārāja Nābhi, although still a king, retired from family life and went with his wife to a place called Badarikāśrama in the Himālayas, where the Deity Nara-Nārāyaṇa is worshiped. The words prasanna-nipuṇena tapasā indicate that the King accepted all kinds of austerity very expertly and jubilantly. He did not at all mind leaving his comfortable life at home, although he was the emperor. Despite undergoing severe austerities and penances, he felt very pleased at Badarikāśrama, and he did everything there expertly. In this way, being fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness ( samādhi-yoga ), always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, Mahārāja Nābhi attained success at the end of his life and was promoted to the spiritual world, Vaikuṇṭhaloka.
FAQs
This verse shows King Nābhi crowning his qualified son Ṛṣabhadeva to protect the boundaries of dharma, and then entrusting governance to brāhmaṇas while he dedicates himself to worship and samādhi.
After recognizing Ṛṣabhadeva’s devotion and installing him as ruler, Nābhi and Merudevī retired to Viśālā to practice austere, focused worship of Vāsudeva (Nara-Nārāyaṇa) and attain spiritual perfection.
Fulfill responsibilities through qualified delegation and ethical order, then steadily cultivate daily devotion—calm attention, disciplined habits, and worship/meditation centered on Vāsudeva.