Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 16

Canto 5: The Creative Impetus | Chapter 6: The Activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.6.16

iti ha sma sakala-veda-loka-deva-brāhmaṇa-gavāḿ parama-guror bhagavata ṛṣabhākhyasya viśuddhācaritam īritaḿ puḿsāḿ samasta-duścaritābhiharaṇaḿ parama-mahā-mańgalāyanam idam anuśraddhayopacitayānuśṛṇoty āśrāvayati vāvahito bhagavati tasmin vāsudeva ekāntato bhaktir anayor api samanuvartate

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; ha sma — indeed; sakala — all; veda — of knowledge; loka — of people in general; deva — of the demigods; brāhmaṇa — of the brāhmaṇas; gavām — of the cows; parama — the supreme; guroḥ — master; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ṛṣabha-ākhyasya — whose name was Lord Ṛṣabhadeva; viśuddha — pure; ācaritam — activities; īritam — now explained; puḿsām — of every living entity; samasta — all; duścarita — sinful activities; abhiharaṇam — destroying; parama — foremost; mahā — great; mańgala — of auspiciousness; ayanam — the shelter; idam — this; anuśraddhayā — with faith; upacitayā — increasing; anuśṛṇoti — hears from the authority; āśrāvayati — speaks to others; vā — or; avahitaḥ — being attentive; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasmin — unto Him; vāsudeve — to Lord Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa; eka-antataḥ — unflinching; bhaktiḥ — devotion; anayoḥ — of both groups, the listeners and the speakers; api — certainly; samanuvartate — factually begins.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the master of all Vedic knowledge, human beings, demigods, cows and brāhmaṇas. I have already explained His pure, transcendental activities, which will vanquish the sinful activities of all living entities. This narration of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva's pastimes is the reservoir of all auspicious things. Whoever attentively hears or speaks of them, following in the footsteps of the ācāryas, will certainly attain unalloyed devotional service at the lotus feet of Lord Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

The teachings of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva are for the people of all yugas — Satya-yuga, Tretā-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga and especially Kali-yuga. These instructions are so powerful that even in this age of Kali, one can attain perfection simply by explaining the instructions, following in the footsteps of the ācāryas or listening to the instructions with great attention. If one does so, one can attain the platform of pure devotional service to Lord Vāsudeva. The pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees are recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam so that those who recite these pastimes and listen to them will become purified. Nityaḿ bhāgavata-sevayā [SB 1.2.18]. As a matter of principle, devotees should read, speak and hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam persistently, twenty-four hours daily if possible. That is the recommendation of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ [Cc. adi 17.31]. One should either chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra or read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and thereby try to understand the characteristics and instructions of the Supreme Lord, who appeared as Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, Lord Kapila and Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way one can become fully aware of the transcendental nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, one who knows the transcendental nature of the Lord's birth and activities attains liberation from material bondage and returns to Godhead.

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