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.
Sendo uma encarnação da Suprema Personalidade de Deus, o Senhor Ṛṣabhadeva era plenamente independente; Sua forma era espiritual, eterna e repleta de ānanda transcendental. Ele jamais teve relação com a cadeia de misérias materiais—nascimento, morte, velhice e doença—nem com apego mundano. Era equânime, via todos por igual, amistoso e compassivo. Contudo, agindo como se fosse uma alma condicionada, seguiu rigorosamente o varṇāśrama-dharma que, com o tempo, fora negligenciado, e por Seu próprio exemplo instruiu os ignorantes. Assim regulou o povo na vida de chefe de família, conduzindo-o a dharma, artha, fama, descendência, gozo e, por fim, ao bem supremo e imortal, como amṛta.
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.