Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 32
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
यर्हि वाव स भगवान् लोकमिमं योगस्याद्धा प्रतीपमिवाचक्षाणस्तत्प्रतिक्रियाकर्म बीभत्सितमिति व्रतमाजगरमास्थित: शयान एवाश्नाति पिबति खादत्यवमेहति हदति स्म चेष्टमान उच्चरित आदिग्धोद्देश: ॥ ३२ ॥
yarhi vāva sa bhagavān lokam imaṁ yogasyāddhā pratīpam ivācakṣāṇas tat-pratikriyā-karma bībhatsitam iti vratam ājagaram-āsthitaḥ śayāna evāśnāti pibati khādaty avamehati hadati sma ceṣṭamāna uccarita ādigdhoddeśaḥ.
Cuando el Señor Ṛṣabhadeva vio que la gente común era hostil a su práctica de yoga místico, adoptó el voto de comportarse como una pitón para neutralizar esa oposición. Permanecía tendido en un solo lugar; acostado comía y bebía, evacuaba y orinaba, y se revolcaba en ello hasta untarse todo el cuerpo, para que los elementos contrarios no se acercaran a perturbarlo.
According to one’s destiny, one enjoys allotted happiness and distress, even though one keeps himself in one place. This is the injunction of the śāstras. When one is spiritually situated, he may stay in one place, and all his necessities will be supplied by the arrangement of the supreme controller. Unless one is a preacher, there is no need to travel all over the world. A person can stay in one place and execute devotional service suitably according to time and circumstance. When Ṛṣabhadeva saw that He was simply being disturbed by traveling throughout the world, He decided to lie down in one place like a python. Thus He ate, drank, and He passed stool and urine and smeared His body with them so that people would not disturb Him.
FAQs
Ajagara-vrata is a discipline of extreme detachment where one minimizes bodily maintenance and accepts what comes naturally, as Ṛṣabhadeva did—lying down, acting only as necessary—showing disgust for materialistic counteractive routines that distract from yoga.
To illustrate Ṛṣabhadeva’s complete renunciation and His teaching that worldly life often runs contrary to yoga; by neglecting bodily pride and comfort, He demonstrated freedom from identification with the body.
By practicing inner detachment: simplify needs, reduce obsessive body-centered habits, avoid vanity, and prioritize sādhana (hearing, chanting, remembrance) while maintaining the body responsibly for devotional service.