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.
作为至上人格神的化身，名为利沙婆的主完全自主；其形体属灵、永恒，充满超越之乐（ānanda）。他永不与生、死、老、病等物质苦链相涉，亦无世间执著。他平等观照众生，安寂、友善而慈悲。虽为至高主宰，他却如同受缚之人般行事，严守随时日而被忽略的四姓四住（varṇāśrama）之法，以自身品行教化无知大众。由此他规范世人在居家生活中修行，使其得以成就法（dharma）、利（artha）、名声、子嗣、享乐，并最终趋向如甘露般不朽的至善。
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.