Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 4 Verse 1

Canto 5: The Creative Impetus | Chapter 4: The Characteristics of Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.4.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

atha ha tam utpattyaivābhivyajyamāna-bhagaval-lakṣaṇaḿ sāmyopaśama-vairāgyaiśvarya-mahā-vibhūtibhir anudinam edhamānānubhāvaḿ prakṛtayaḥ prajā brāhmaṇā devatāś cāvani-tala-samavanāyātitarāḿ jagṛdhuḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha ha — thus (after the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared); tam — Him; utpattyā — from the beginning of His appearance; eva — even; abhivyajyamāna — distinctly manifested; bhagavat-lakṣaṇam — possessing the symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sāmya — equal to everyone; upaśama — completely peaceful, in control of the senses and mind; vairāgya — renunciation; aiśvarya — opulences; mahā-vibhūtibhiḥ — with great attributes; anudinam — day after day; edhamāna — increasing; anubhāvam — His power; prakṛtayaḥ — the ministers; prajāḥ — the citizens; brāhmaṇāḥ — the learned scholars in full knowledge of Brahman; devatāḥ — the demigods; ca — and; avani-tala — the surface of the globe; samavanāya — to rule; atitarām — greatly; jagṛdhuḥ — desired.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As soon as the Lord was born as the son of Mahārāja Nābhi, He manifested symptoms of the Supreme Lord, such as marks on the bottoms of His feet [the flag, thunderbolt, etc.]. This son was equal to everyone and very peaceful. He could control His senses and His mind, and, possessing all opulence, He did not hanker for material enjoyment. Endowed with all these attributes, the son of Mahārāja Nābhi became more powerful day after day. Due to this, the citizens, learned brāhmaṇas, demigods and ministers wanted Ṛṣabhadeva to be appointed ruler of the earth.

PURPORT

In these days of cheap incarnations, it is very interesting to note the bodily symptoms found in an incarnation. From the very beginning of His birth, it was observed that Ṛṣabhadeva's feet were marked with the transcendental signs (a flag, thunderbolt, lotus flower, etc.). In addition to this, as the Lord began to grow, He became very prominent. He was equal to everyone. He did not favor one person and neglect another. An incarnation of God must have the six opulences — wealth. strength, knowledge, beauty, fame and renunciation. It is said that although Ṛṣabhadeva was endowed with all opulences, He was not at all attached to material enjoyment. He was self-controlled and therefore liked by everyone. Due to His superexcellent qualities, everyone wanted Him to rule the earth. An incarnation of God has to be accepted by experienced people and by the symptoms described in the śāstras. An incarnation is not accepted simply by the adulation of foolish people.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness