Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
भगवानृषभसंज्ञ आत्मतन्त्र: स्वयं नित्यनिवृत्तानर्थपरम्पर: केवलानन्दानुभव ईश्वर एव विपरीतवत्कर्माण्यारभमाण: कालेनानुगतं धर्ममाचरणेनोपशिक्षयन्नतद्विदां सम उपशान्तो मैत्र: कारुणिको धर्मार्थयश: प्रजानन्दामृतावरोधेन गृहेषु लोकं नियमयत् ॥ १४ ॥
bhagavān ṛṣabha-saṁjña ātma-tantraḥ svayaṁ nitya-nivṛttānartha-paramparaḥ kevalānandānubhava īśvara eva viparītavat karmāṇy ārabhamāṇaḥ kālenānugataṁ dharmam ācaraṇenopaśikṣayann atad-vidāṁ sama upaśānto maitraḥ kāruṇiko dharmārtha-yaśaḥ-prajānandāmṛtāvarodhena gṛheṣu lokaṁ niyamayat.
至上人格神の化身である主リシャバデーヴァは、完全に自立自在であった。御身は霊的で永遠、超越的アーナンダに満ち、誕生・死・老い・病という物質的苦の連鎖と永遠に無縁で、世俗の執着もない。平等に衆生を見、静謐で、友愛と慈悲に満ちていた。しかも束縛された魂のように振る舞い、時代とともに顧みられなくなったヴァルナ―アーシュラマ・ダルマを自ら厳守して、無知な人々にその務めを教えた。こうして家住生活にある世人を律し、ダルマ、アルタ、名声、子孫、享楽、そして最後にはアムリタのごとき不滅の至善へと導く道を示された。
The varṇāśrama-dharma is meant for imperfect, conditioned souls. It trains them to become spiritually advanced in order to return home, back to Godhead. A civilization that does not know the highest aim of life is no better than an animal society. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum. A human society is meant for elevation to spiritual knowledge so that all of the people can be freed from the clutches of birth, death, old age and disease. The varṇāśrama-dharma enables human society to become perfectly fit for getting out of the clutches of māyā, and by following the regulative principles of varṇāśrama-dharma one can become successful. In this regard, see Bhagavad-gītā 3.21-24.
FAQs
This verse says that although Ṛṣabhadeva is eternally beyond material suffering and situated in pure bliss, He acts like an ordinary person to teach dharma through His own example.
Because the Lord is actually transcendental and independent, yet He deliberately accepts social and royal responsibilities to instruct people who do not understand the highest truth.
Do your duties with inner detachment, learn by good example rather than words alone, and keep dharma above mere wealth and reputation so that real happiness is not blocked.