Shloka 16
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
यद्यपि स्वविदितं सकलधर्मं ब्राह्मं गुह्यं ब्राह्मणैर्दर्शितमार्गेण सामादिभिरुपायैर्जनतामनुशशास ॥ १६ ॥
yadyapi sva-viditaṁ sakala-dharmaṁ brāhmaṁ guhyaṁ brāhmaṇair darśita-mārgeṇa sāmādibhir upāyair janatām anuśaśāsa.
സകലധർമ്മങ്ങളെയും ഉൾക്കൊള്ളുന്ന ഗൂഢമായ വൈദിക ബ്രഹ്മവിദ്യ ഭഗവാൻ ഋഷഭദേവന് അറിയാമായിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും, ബ്രാഹ്മണർ കാണിച്ച മാർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ സാമാദി ഉപായങ്ങളാൽ മനോനിയന്ത്രണം, ഇന്ദ്രിയനിയന്ത്രണം, ക്ഷമ മുതലായവയിൽ പ്രജയെ ശിക്ഷിച്ചു ഭരിച്ചു।
Although Ṛṣabhadeva knew all the Vedic instructions perfectly well, He nonetheless followed the instructions of the brāhmaṇas in order to perfectly maintain the social order. The brāhmaṇas would give advice according to the śāstras, and all the other castes would follow. The word brahma means “perfect knowledge of all activities,” and this knowledge is very confidentially described in the Vedic literatures. Men trained perfectly as brāhmaṇas should know all Vedic literature, and the benefit derived from this literature should be distributed to the general populace. The general populace should follow the perfect brāhmaṇa. In this way, one can learn how to control the mind and senses and thus gradually advance to spiritual perfection.
FAQs
This verse says that even a fully self-realized ruler like Ṛṣabhadeva instructed the public by following the path demonstrated by qualified brāhmaṇas, showing that governance should be guided by spiritual and ethical authority.
Because Bhagavatam presents great souls as teaching by example: though He was omniscient regarding dharma and confidential spiritual truth, He educated society so people could practically follow the right path.
Seek guidance from genuinely principled and spiritually grounded teachers, and use peaceful, constructive methods (like dialogue and conciliation) to guide others rather than impulsive force or ego.