rule



 
 
Canto 5
Govinda Jaya Jaya
 


Chapter 4: The Characteristics of Rishabhadeva

(1) A Vishnu to
                                            worshipS'rī S'uka said: 'Because He [the son of king Nābhi, see previous chapter and 2.7: 10] from the beginning of His appearance distinguished Himself every day more and more with the authority of all the characteristics of the Supreme Lord, like being equal minded to all, being of perfect peace and renunciation and having all influence and powers, the ministers, citizens, the brahmins and the demigods longed greatly for the day that He would rule the earth. (2) Because of the in grand verses [by the poets] glorified exalted state of His auspicious appearance, His prowess, strength, beauty, fame, influence and heroism, His father gave Him the name Rishabha, the Best One. (3) King Indra, jealous of His greatness, allowed no rain in Bhārata-varsha, but the Supreme Lord Rishabhadeva who knew [why that happened], being the Master of yoga smiled about it and then, from His internal [yogamāyā] potency, made the waters rain down on the place where He resided that was called Ajanābha. (4) King Nābhi who as he wanted had gotten the most beautiful son he could wish for, was in a state of illusion about Him, the Supreme Lordship and oldest, Original Person, who in his eyes behaved like a normal human being. Accepting Him as such he, overwhelmed by an excess of great jubilation, in ecstasy with a faltering voice said things like: 'my dear son, my darling' and thus raising Him achieved a state of transcendental happiness. (5) Knowing how popular Rishabha was in His service to the citizens and the state, King Nābhi, who wanted to protect the people strictly to the principle, put his son on the throne. Entrusting Him to the brahmins he then, together with Merudevī in Badarikās'rama completely absorbed in yoga, with great satisfaction skillfully performed austerities in worship of Nara-Nārāyana, [a plenary expansion of] the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva. This way he in the course of time attained His glorious abode [Vaikunthha].

(6) Oh son of Pāndu [Parīkchit, see family tree], two verses are recited about him: 'Which person can follow the example of the pious king Nābhi who by the purity of his actions got the Lord as his son?' and: (7) 'Is there besides Nābhi a better devotee of the brahmins? Being satisfied and honored by him the scholars by dint of their prowess were able to show him the Lord of all sacrifices in the sacrificial arena.'

(8) T
he Supreme Lord Rishabha, after accepting His kingdom as His field of work, set an example by living with His spiritual teachers and giving them donations upon finishing His studies. Being ordered to take up the duties of a householder He married Jayantī who had been offered to Him by Indra. He then taught by example how to perform both types of activities as mentioned in the scriptures [of defending the religion and fighting injustice]. He begot a hundred sons [in her and in co-wives or through his sons with daughters-in-law] who were exactly like Him. (9) The eldest son Bharata was a great yoga practitioner. He had the best qualities and it was because of him that the people call this land Bhārata-varsha. (10) Of the ninety-nine other sons who were born after Bharata, the eldest ones were called Kus'āvarta, Ilāvarta, Brahmāvarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprik, Vidarbha and Kīkatha. (11-12) Among the rest of them Kavi, Havi, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana were nine highly advanced devotees in defense of the truth of this Bhāgavatam. About their fine characters evincing the glories of the Lord, I will give you later on [in Canto 11] a colorful account when I discuss the conversation between Vāsudeva and Nārada that gives the mind the highest satisfaction. (13) The eighty-one younger sons of Jayantī were, faithful to what their father said, well cultured with a fine command of the scriptural truth and were most skilled in performing sacrifices. Very pure in their actions, they became great brahmins.

(14) T
he Supreme Lord named Rishabha was truly a completely independent Lordship full of pure transcendental bliss, a person always transcendental to the ever repeating miseries of material life [birth, old age disease and death]. Equipoised and unperturbed, He, friendly and merciful, educated [by His example] the ignorant because of whose neglect in performing the dharma in the course of time only contrary karmic actions are found. He also regulated for the common people the religion and economy so that a good reputation, offspring, happiness in household life and eternal life was within their reach [compare B.G. 4: 13]. (15) Whatever is done by leading personalities is followed by the common people [see also B.G 3: 21]. (16) Despite knowing everything about the confidential Vedic instructions constituting the essence of all civil duties, He still [as a kshatriya] followed the path laid out by the brahmins and ruled the people with sense control and tolerance and such. (17) Being of worship [unto Vishnu] He, also in respect of the different gods and purposes and, in line with the instructions, providing in abundance for everything that was needed, performed according to time and circumstance a hundred times over all kinds of ceremonial sacrifices with priests of the proper age and faith. (18) Being protected by the Supreme Lord Rishabha no one on this planet, not even the most common man, fostered a desire for but even the smallest thing whatever, whenever, for himself or from anyone else, just as one would not desire a castle in the air. All one cared about was an innerly ever increasing, great love for the one carrying the burden. (19) When He, the Supreme Lord, once toured around and reached the holy land of Brahmāvarta [between the rivers the Sarasvatī and Drishadvatī to the north west of Hastināpura], he before an audience of citizens in a meeting of prominent brahmins, said the following to his attentive and well-behaved sons. He lectured them despite the fact that they excelled in self-control and devotion.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded February 16, 2018.
 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'Because He [the son of king Nābhi, see previous chapter and 2.7: 10] from the beginning of His appearance distinguished Himself every day more and more with the authority of all the characteristics of the Supreme Lord, like being equal minded to all, being of perfect peace and renunciation and having all influence and powers, the ministers, citizens, the brahmins and the demigods longed greatly for the day that He would rule the earth.
S'rī S'uka said: 'From the beginning of His appearance distinguished He Himself [as the son of king Nābhi, see previous Chapter and 2.7: 10] in having all the characteristics of the Supreme Lord as being equalminded to all, being of perfect peace and renunciation and having all power and the great attributes, therewith day after day increasing in His effect in a great desire to rule over ministers, citizens, the brahmins, the godly and the whole surface of the earth. (Vedabase)


Text 2

Because of the in grand verses [by the poets] glorified exalted state of His auspicious appearance, His prowess, strength, beauty, fame, influence and heroism, His father gave Him the name Rishabha, the Best One.

Thus for certain most exalted in as well his bodily features as in having all the qualities as described by the poets, did the father thus give Him because of His prowess, strength, beauty, fame, influence and heroism, the name Rishabha, the best one. (Vedabase)


 Text 3

King Indra, jealous of His greatness, allowed no rain in Bhārata-varsha, but the Supreme Lord Rishabhadeva who knew [why that happened], being the Master of yoga smiled about it and then, from His internal [yogamāyā] potency, made the waters rain down on the place where He resided that was called Ajanābha.

King Indra who turned out to be very envious with His greatness did not permit any rain to fall down on the land below the Himalayas; the Supreme Lord Rishabhadeva who knew that, smiled over it as the master of yoga and made, by the power of His spiritual self, the waters fall down on His place that was called Ajanābha. (Vedabase)


Text 4

King Nābhi who as he wanted had gotten the most beautiful son he could wish for, was in a state of illusion about Him, the Supreme Lordship and oldest, Original Person, who in his eyes behaved like a normal human being. Accepting Him as such he, overwhelmed by an excess of great jubilation, in ecstasy with a faltering voice said things like: 'my dear son, my darling' and thus raising Him achieved a state of transcendental happiness.

By His independent will had He, the Supreme Lordship and oldest, Original Person through His deluding power bewildered the mind of King Nābhi who to his desire no doubt had gotten the most beautiful son, and that made him, overwhelmed by an excess of great jubilation, from his ecstasy with a faltering voice with great affection say: 'my dear son, my darling', as he achieved transcendental bliss in raising Him. (Vedabase)


Text 5

Knowing how popular Rishabha was in His service to the citizens and the state, King Nābhi, who wanted to protect the people strictly to the principle, put his son on the throne. Entrusting Him to the brahmins he then, together with Merudevī in Badarikās'rama completely absorbed in yoga, with great satisfaction skillfully performed austerities in worship of Nara-Nārāyana, [a plenary expansion of] the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva. This way he in the course of time attained His glorious abode [Vaikunthha].

Knowing well of the popularity of His serving the citizens and the state, enthroned King Nābhi, in his desire to protect the people strictly to the principle, his son, entrusting him to the brahmins. With Merudevī performed he in Badarikās'rama with great satisfaction and skill austerities, fully absorbed in yoga worshiping Nara-Nārāyana, the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva by which he in the course of time reached His glorious abode. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Oh son of Pāndu [Parīkchit, see family tree], two verses are recited about him: 'Which person can follow the example of the pious king Nābhi who by the purity of his actions got the Lord as his son?' and: 

O son of Pāndu [Parīkchit, see family tree], of him in fact are two verses recited: 'What man following the example of the pious king Nābhi can do what he did and by the pure of his actions receive the Supreme Personality of God for his son?' and (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

'Is there besides Nābhi a better devotee of the brahmins? Being satisfied and honored by him the scholars by dint of their prowess were able to show him the Lord of all sacrifices in the sacrificial arena.'

'Is there besides Nābhi any other devotee of the brahmins who in worship satisfying them in the sacrificial arena, by dint of their devotional service was granted the presence of the Supreme Enjoyer of all sacrifices?' (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

The Supreme Lord Rishabha, after accepting His kingdom as His field of work, set an example by living with His spiritual teachers and giving them donations upon finishing His studies. Being ordered to take up the duties of a householder He married Jayantī who had been offered to Him by Indra. He then taught by example how to perform both types of activities as mentioned in the scriptures [of defending the religion and fighting injustice]. He begot a hundred sons [in her and in co-wives or through his sons with daughters-in-law] who were exactly like Him.

The Supreme Lord Rishabha then, accepting His kingdom as His field of work, set an example in living with the spiritual master, giving gifts upon achieving and, as was demanded by the guru, took upon Him the duties of a householder. Thus, being married to Jayantī who had been offered to Him by Indra, He taught by example performing both the types of work as mentioned in the scriptures [of defending the religion and fighting injustice], begetting a hundred sons [with her and with co-wives or via his sons with daughters in law] that were exactly like Him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

The eldest son Bharata was a great yoga practitioner. He had the best qualities and it was because of him that the people call this land Bhārata-varsha.

Of them was indeed the eldest, Bharata, a great practitioner of yoga; he had the best qualities and it was he of whom this land was called Bhārata-varsha by the people. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Of the ninety-nine other sons who were born after Bharata, the eldest ones were called Kus'āvarta, Ilāvarta, Brahmāvarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprik, Vidarbha and Kīkatha.

After him followed Kus'āvarta, Ilāvarta, Brahmāvarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprik, Vidarbha and Kīkatha who were the elder ones of the ninety-nine other sons. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11-12

Among the rest of them Kavi, Havi, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana were nine highly advanced devotees in defense of the truth of this Bhāgavatam. About their fine characters evincing the glories of the Lord, I will give you later on [in Canto 11] a colorful account when I discuss the conversation between Vāsudeva and Nārada that gives the mind the highest satisfaction.

Of the latter were Kavi, Havi, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana nine highly advanced devotees who defended the truth of this Bhāgavatam; of their good characters evincing the glories of the Lord, I will later on [in Canto 11] give a colorful account in relating the conversation between Vāsudeva and Nārada which brings the mind the fullest satisfaction.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

The eighty-one younger sons of Jayantī were, faithful to what their father said, well cultured with a fine command of the scriptural truth and were most skilled in performing sacrifices. Very pure in their actions, they became great brahmins.

The eighty-one younger sons of Jayantī were, following the order of their father, well cultured with a great command of the scriptural truths and had a great expertise in the performance of sacrifices; very pure in their actions, they became great brahmins. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

The Supreme Lord named Rishabha was truly a completely independent Lordship full of pure transcendental bliss, a person always transcendental to the ever repeating miseries of material life [birth, old age disease and death]. Equipoised and unperturbed, He, friendly and merciful, educated [by His example] the ignorant because of whose neglect in performing the dharma in the course of time only contrary karmic actions are found. He also regulated for the common people the religion and economy so that a good reputation, offspring, happiness in household life and eternal life was within their reach [compare B.G. 4: 13].

The Supreme Lord named Rishabha was indeed a completely  independent Controller full of transcendental bliss who personally was always free from the unwanted; by executing strict to the tradition, did He, teaching the ignorant of whom in the course of time just the opposite in neglect of the religion is found, equipoised and unperturbed, friendly and merciful, for the people in general regulate the eternal of righteousness and economy so that they could achieve reputation, offspring and pleasure in household life [compare B.G. 4: 13]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Whatever is done by leading personalities is followed by the common people [see also B.G 3: 21].

Whatever is done by leading personalities is followed by the people in general [see also B.G 3: 21].  (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Despite knowing everything about the confidential Vedic instructions constituting the essence of all civil duties, He still [as a kshatriya] followed the path laid out by the brahmins and ruled the people with sense control and tolerance and such.

Although He knew of the confidential purport of the different vedic duties on the path of the brahmins, ruled He [as a kshatriya] over the people by means of controlled senses, a controlled mind and by tolerance. (Vedabase)
 
Text 17

Being of worship [unto Vishnu] He, also in respect of the different gods and purposes and, in line with the instructions, providing in abundance for everything that was needed, performed according to time and circumstance a hundred times over all kinds of ceremonial sacrifices with priests of the proper age and faith.

Along with the necessities according the place and the time ascertained He, aided by the good [tender] age and faith of the priests worshipping the different gods for different purposes, as is prescribed, Himself a hundred times of all kinds of ceremonial sacrifices. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Being protected by the Supreme Lord Rishabha no one on this planet, not even the most common man, fostered a desire for but even the smallest thing whatever, whenever, for himself or from anyone else, just as one would not desire a castle in the air. All one cared about was an innerly ever increasing, great love for the one carrying the burden.

Being protected by the Supreme Lordship of Rishabha fostered no one on this planet, not even the most common man, the smallest desire for whatever, whenever, nor for himself nor from anyone else, just as one would never think of something that doesn't exist; all one cared about was an innerly ever increasing, great affection for the one pulling the weight. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

When He, the Supreme Lord, once toured around and reached the holy land of Brahmāvarta [between the rivers the Sarasvatī and Drishadvatī to the north west of Hastināpura], he before an audience of citizens in a meeting of prominent brahmins, said the following to his attentive and well-behaved sons. He lectured them despite the fact that they excelled in self-control and devotion.'

When He, the Supreme Lord, once toured around and reached the holy land of Brahmāvarta [between the rivers the Sarasvatī and Drishadvatī to the N. W. of Hastināpura] did he, overheard by the citizens in a meeting of the best of the brahmins, say the following to his attentive and well-behaved sons, lecturing to them despite of the fact that they excelled in self-control and devotion. (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

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The painting is titled: 'The annointment of King Rishabha'
Leaf from a Jain Kalpasutra. Circa 1500.
Source: Private collection.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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