Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 35
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
इति नानायोगचर्याचरणो भगवान् कैवल्यपतिऋर्षभोऽविरतपरममहानन्दानुभव आत्मनि सर्वेषां भूतानामात्मभूते भगवति वासुदेव आत्मनोऽव्यवधानानन्तरोदरभावेन सिद्धसमस्तार्थपरिपूर्णो योगैश्वर्याणि वैहायसमनोजवान्तर्धानपरकायप्रवेशदूरग्रहणादीनि यदृच्छयोपगतानि नाञ्जसा नृप हृदयेनाभ्यनन्दत् ॥ ३५ ॥
iti nānā-yoga-caryācaraṇo bhagavān kaivalya-patir ṛṣabho ’virata-parama-mahānandānubhava ātmani sarveṣāṁ bhūtānām ātma-bhūte bhagavati vāsudeva ātmano ’vyavadhānānanta-rodara-bhāvena siddha-samastārtha-paripūrṇo yogaiśvaryāṇi vaihāyasa-mano-javāntardhāna-parakāya-praveśa-dūra-grahaṇādīni yadṛcchayopagatāni nāñjasā nṛpa hṛdayenābhyanandat.
O Haring Parīkṣit, upang ipakita sa mga yogī ang landas ng yoga, isinagawa ni Bhagavān Ṛṣabhadeva ang iba’t ibang anyo ng yogic na pamumuhay at nagpakita ng kahanga-hangang gawain. Siya ang panginoon ng kalayaan at laging nalulubog sa sukdulang espirituwal na ligaya. Dahil Siya’y walang pagitan na nagkaisa sa bhāva ng pag-ibig kay Bhagavān Vāsudeva—ang Ātman ng lahat ng nilalang—kaya Siya’y ganap sa lahat ng katuparan. Ang mga kapangyarihang yogic gaya ng paglalakbay sa himpapawid na kasingbilis ng isip, paglitaw at paglaho, pagpasok sa katawan ng iba, at pagtanaw sa napakalayo ay kusang lumapit sa Kanya; ngunit hindi Niya ito ginamit.
In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 19.149) it is said:
FAQs
This verse says that even when siddhis like flying, invisibility, entering another’s body, and distant perception arise naturally, a fully God-realized devotee like Ṛṣabhadeva does not value them, being already complete in devotion to Vāsudeva.
Śukadeva highlights that Ṛṣabhadeva’s fulfillment came from uninterrupted absorption in Vāsudeva, the Self of all beings; therefore, secondary attainments like siddhis could not attract his heart.
Prioritize inner devotion and steady God-remembrance over the pursuit of extraordinary experiences, recognition, or “spiritual achievements,” treating such by-products as distractions from the real goal—pure absorption in the Lord.