Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras
अथ ह भगवानृषभदेव: स्ववर्षं कर्मक्षेत्रमनुमन्यमान: प्रदर्शितगुरुकुलवासो लब्धवरैर्गुरुभिरनुज्ञातो गृहमेधिनां धर्माननुशिक्षमाणो जयन्त्यामिन्द्रदत्तायामुभयलक्षणं कर्म समाम्नायाम्नातमभियुञ्जन्नात्मजानामात्मसमानानां शतं जनयामास ॥ ८ ॥
atha ha bhagavān ṛṣabhadevaḥ sva-varṣaṁ karma-kṣetram anumanyamānaḥ pradarśita-gurukula-vāso labdha-varair gurubhir anujñāto gṛhamedhināṁ dharmān anuśikṣamāṇo jayantyām indra-dattāyām ubhaya-lakṣaṇaṁ karma samāmnāyāmnātam abhiyuñjann ātmajānām ātma-samānānāṁ śataṁ janayām āsa.
那毗大王前往跋陀利迦修行林后，至上主利沙婆提婆明了自己的国土即是其行事之田。为示范世人，他先在师长座下受持梵行，住于师门（古鲁库拉）。学成后奉献师礼（guru-dakṣiṇā），得师许可而入居家之道，教导家主之法。他迎娶因陀罗所献的阇延蒂为妻，依照闻典与忆典所规定的仪轨行事，生下百子，皆与他同等具德具力。
Being an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ṛṣabhadeva had nothing to do with material affairs. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām: the purpose of an incarnation is to liberate His devotees and to stop the demoniac activities of nondevotees. These are the two functions of the Supreme Lord when He incarnates. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said that in order to preach one must live a practical life and show people how to do things. Āpani ācari’ bhakti śikhāimu sabāre. One cannot teach others unless he behaves the same way himself. Ṛṣabhadeva was an ideal king, and He took His education in the gurukula, although He was already educated because the Supreme Lord is omniscient. Although Ṛṣabhadeva had nothing to learn from gurukula, He went there just to teach the people in general how to take an education from the right source, from Vedic teachers. He then entered householder life and lived according to the principles of Vedic knowledge — śruti and smṛti. In his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.101) Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, quoting the Skanda Purāṇa, states:
FAQs
This verse shows Ṛṣabhadeva entering household life with guru’s permission and specifically teaching the dharma meant for householders, indicating that gṛhastha life is sacred when guided by Vedic principles and spiritual instruction.
The verse states He ‘demonstrated’ residence in the guru’s āśrama to model ideal conduct—showing that even the highest authority honors discipline, learning, and obedience to spiritual teachers for the benefit of society.
Perform responsibilities (work, family care, service) in a way that brings lawful worldly stability while also aiming at spiritual growth—by offering results to God, following ethical principles, and keeping devotion at the center.