Shloka 19
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Indifference to Siddhis, Vigilance Toward the Mind, and the Kali-yuga Rise of Anti-Vedic धर्म
नित्यानुभूतनिजलाभनिवृत्ततृष्ण: श्रेयस्यतद्रचनया चिरसुप्तबुद्धे: । लोकस्य य: करुणयाभयमात्मलोक- माख्यान्नमो भगवते ऋषभाय तस्मै ॥ १९ ॥
nityānubhūta-nija-lābha-nivṛtta-tṛṣṇaḥ śreyasy atad-racanayā cira-supta-buddheḥ lokasya yaḥ karuṇayābhayam ātma-lokam ākhyān namo bhagavate ṛṣabhāya tasmai
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, ever realized His true self; thus He was complete in Himself and free from thirst for external enjoyment. The world, long asleep in the bodily conception of life, does not know its real welfare. Out of causeless mercy He taught the truth of the soul and the goal of life. Therefore we offer our respectful obeisances to the Lord who appeared as Ṛṣabhadeva.
This is the summary of this chapter, in which the activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva are described. Being the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is complete in Himself. We living entities, as parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, should follow the instructions of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva and become self-sufficient. We should not create unnecessary demands due to the bodily conception. When one is self-realized, he is sufficiently satisfied due to being situated in his original spiritual position. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54) : brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati. This is the goal of all living entities. Even though one may be situated within this material world, he can become fully satisfied and devoid of hankering and lamentation simply by following the instructions of the Lord as set forth in Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Satisfaction through self-realization is called svarūpānanda. The conditioned soul, eternally sleeping in darkness, does not understand his self-interest. He simply tries to become happy by making material adjustments, but this is impossible. It is therefore said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: due to gross ignorance, the conditioned soul does not know that his real self-interest is to take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu. To try to become happy by adjusting the material atmosphere is a useless endeavor. Indeed, it is impossible. By His personal behavior and instructions, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva enlightened the conditioned soul and showed him how to become self-sufficient in his spiritual identity.
FAQs
This verse praises Ṛṣabhadeva as nivṛtta-tṛṣṇa—completely free from craving—because He is always satisfied in self-realized spiritual attainment, showing that true detachment arises from inner realization.
Śukadeva highlights Ṛṣabhadeva’s compassion: seeing people’s intelligence “asleep,” He taught the path of the highest good and revealed the spiritual destination, making His instructions authoritative and merciful.
Cultivate contentment through spiritual practice (hearing, chanting, and reflection), reduce craving-driven habits, and seek guidance that awakens higher purpose rather than feeding endless consumption.