Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8

Ṛṣabhadeva’s Indifference to Siddhis, Vigilance Toward the Mind, and the Kali-yuga Rise of Anti-Vedic धर्म

Devanagari script

अथ समीरवेगविधूतवेणुविकर्षणजातोग्रदावानलस्तद्वनमालेलिहान: सह तेन ददाह ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

atha samīra-vega-vidhūta-veṇu-vikarṣaṇa-jātogra-dāvānalas tad vanam ālelihānaḥ saha tena dadāha.

Translation

ໃນຂະນະທີ່ພຣະອົງໄດ້ຍ່າງໄປມາ, ໄຟປ່າທໍາມະຊາດໄດ້ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນ. ໄຟ​ນີ້​ເກີດ​ຈາກ​ການ​ຂັດ​ຂອງ​ໄມ້​ໄຜ່, ຊຶ່ງ​ຖືກ​ລົມ​ພັດ. ໃນໄຟນັ້ນ, ປ່າທັງຫມົດທີ່ຢູ່ໃກ້ກັບ Kutakacala ແລະຮ່າງກາຍຂອງພຣະຜູ້ເປັນເຈົ້າ Rishabhadeva ໄດ້ຖືກໄຟໄຫມ້ເປັນຂີ້ເຖົ່າ.

Synonyms

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

• samīra-vega-vidhūta-veṇu-vikarṣaṇa-jāta-ugra-dāvānalaḥ: a fierce forest-fire born from wind-driven bamboo friction
• samīra-vega-vidhūta-veṇu-vikarṣaṇa-jāta-ugra-dāvānalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīra + vega + vidhūta + veṇu + vikarṣaṇa + jāta + ugra + dāvānala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘समीरवेगेन विधूतानां वेणूनां विकर्षणात् जातः उग्रः दावानलः’ (a fierce forest-fire arisen from bamboo-friction caused by wind-shaken bamboos)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘vanam’

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• ālelihānaḥ: licking up/consuming
• ālelihānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-lih (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle); आत्मनेपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग; ‘licking up, consuming’

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपसर्गवत् (preposition/adverb: 'together with')

• tena: with it/with that (fire)
• tena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया; एकवचन

• dadāha: burned
• dadāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

Purport

Such a forest fire can burn the external bodies of animals, but Lord Ṛṣabhadeva was not burned, although He apparently seemed so. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the Supersoul of all living entities within the forest, and His soul is never burned by fire. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, adāhyo ’yam — the soul is never burned by fire. Due to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s presence, all the animals in the forest were also liberated from material encagement.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣabhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the sudden destruction of worldly life?

This verse depicts how, by the interaction of natural forces (wind and bamboo friction), a forest fire can arise and consume everything—illustrating how material arrangements can be swiftly destroyed and should not be relied upon for lasting security.

Why is a forest fire described in the section about Ṛṣabhadeva’s instructions?

Śukadeva uses vivid events in nature to reinforce the mood of vairāgya (detachment): just as a forest can be burned in a moment, worldly enjoyment and possessions are fragile, urging one toward spiritual shelter.

How can I apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Recognize impermanence: plan responsibly, but cultivate steady bhakti and inner detachment so that sudden changes—loss, crisis, uncertainty—do not break one’s spiritual focus.