Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
ऋषभ उवाच नायं देहो देहभाजां नृलोके कष्टान् कामानर्हते विड्भुजां ये । तपो दिव्यं पुत्रका येन सत्त्वं शुद्ध्येद्यस्माद् ब्रह्मसौख्यं त्वनन्तम् ॥ १ ॥
ṛṣabha uvāca nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattvaṁ śuddhyed yasmād brahma-saukhyaṁ tv anantam
Ṛṣabhadeva disse: Meus filhos, tendo obtido o corpo humano, não convém labutar dia e noite apenas pela gratificação dos sentidos, disponível até a cães e porcos que comem imundície. Praticai uma austeridade divina; assim o coração se purifica e, pela bhakti-sevā, alcança-se o Brahma-sukha eterno e infinito, além da felicidade material.
In this verse Lord Ṛṣabhadeva tells His sons about the importance of human life. The word deha-bhāk refers to anyone who accepts a material body, but the living entity who is awarded the human form must act differently from animals. Animals like dogs and hogs enjoy sense gratification by eating stool. After undergoing severe hardships all day, human beings are trying to enjoy themselves at night by eating, drinking, having sex and sleeping. At the same time, they have to properly defend themselves. However, this is not human civilization. Human life means voluntarily practicing suffering for the advancement of spiritual life. There is, of course, suffering in the lives of animals and plants, which are suffering due to their past misdeeds. However, human beings should voluntarily accept suffering in the form of austerities and penances in order to attain the divine life. After attaining the divine life, one can enjoy happiness eternally. After all, every living entity is trying to enjoy happiness, but as long as one is encaged in the material body he has to suffer different kinds of misery. A higher sense is present in the human form. We should act according to superior advice in order to attain eternal happiness and go back to Godhead.
FAQs
In 5.5.1, Ṛṣabhadeva teaches that human life is not meant for hard labor for sense pleasure; it is meant for divya-tapas (spiritual discipline) that purifies existence and yields unlimited brahman-bliss.
He uses a stark comparison to show that mere bodily pleasure is available even to lower species; therefore humans should pursue higher spiritual purification and realization.
Adopt purposeful spiritual discipline—regulated habits, self-control, sincere devotion, and practices that purify the mind—rather than living only for consumption and comfort.