॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 30 November 2022 V.04- The advent of King Rishabha Deva and his exemplary activities.
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We have read early on that the eighth incarnation of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu (out of 24) was that of Rishabhadeva, who taught the Paramahamsa path to all seekers. This was the son of King Nabhi, who begot him as an amsha avatara of Bhagavan as a result of his ardent worship.
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Nabhi's son was born with divine markings on his body, clearly indicative of an avatara. Rishabha was the name given to him (meaning in Sanskrit - an exemplar or a great one among men) and he displayed equanimity, peace, control of his mind and senses, and dispassion. He was exemplary in prowess, strength, beauty, with the power to instil respect everyone establishing his fame and influence, and infectious enthusiasm in life. All the learned men and ministers wanted him made the king quickly.
Early on, Indra, the king of heaven, became envious of Rishabha Deva. He decided to stop giving rain to Rishabha's land which later came to be known as Bharatavarsha. Rishabha easily understood Indra's game by using his mystical powers. Smilingly, he used his Yogic power and brought down profuse rain on the land.
Sage Vyasa says King Nabhi could not control his affection for his son whom he addressed in many endearing terms. Nabhi was operating under Yoga Maya, thinking that Rishabha was just his biological son when indeed Rishabha was Bhagavan incarnate.
Understanding the popularity of his son, Nabhi enthroned Rishabha as the emperor of the world to rule over the land and its people righteously. He engaged a council of learned Brahmins to guide the young Rishabha. Thereafter, Nabhi and his wife Merudevi went away to Badarinath, worshipped Nara Narayana with intense austerities and prayers, and attained salvation.
तपसा समाधियोगेन नरनारायणाख्यं भगवन्तं वासुदेवमुपासीन: कालेन तन्महिमानमवाप ॥
T: By Tapas and Samadhi Yoga, Nabhi propitiated Nara-Narayana i.e. Bhagavan and in time attained the abode of Bhagavan.
In the Bhagavatam, two shlokas are given that contain the praise received by Nabhi from sages.
यस्य ह पाण्डवेय श्लोकावुदाहरन्ति को नु तत्कर्म राजर्षेर्नाभेरन्वाचरेत्पुमान् । अपत्यतामगाद्यस्य हरि: शुद्धेन कर्मणा ॥
ब्रह्मण्योऽन्य: कुतो नाभेर्विप्रा मङ्गलपूजिता: । यस्य बर्हिषि यज्ञेशं दर्शयामासुरोजसा ॥
T: “Oh, Parikshit, who can attain the perfection of King Nabhi in action? Because of his sincere prayers, the Supreme Being agreed to become his son.”
“Who is a better worshipper of Brahmins than King Nabhi? His devoted service to them pleased the Brahmins so much that they used their prowess to bring about the Darshan of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the Supreme Lord who accepts Yajna offerings, to him."
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Rishabha Deva, we should remember, had incarnated to become a role model for righteous conduct. First, he went to the hermitage of Gurus and practised the discipline of a Brahmachari. After successfully completing his discipleship there, he offered to his preceptors generous Guru Dakshina.
Then Rishabha took up the householder life, marrying the daughter of Indra named Jayanti. The couple lived according to the letter and spirit of the Shrutis and Smritis, the scriptures that set down the norms of Dharmic life.
Rishabha Deva and Jayanti begot one hundred sons.
The first one was Bharata. He would later take over kingship and rule the land so well that the country would come to be named Bharatavarsha or Bharata (भारत).
Sage Vyasa names the next eighteen sons. Of the first nine, he says,
भागवतधर्मदर्शना नव महाभागवतास्तेषां सुचरितं
T: These were all very exalted, advanced devotees of Bhagavan and their glorious lives would be narrated later in Srimad Bhagavatam while narrating the dialogue between Vasudeva (father of Sri Krishna) and Narada.
The remaining sons of Rishabha Deva and Jayanti became well-cultured, well-behaved, very pure in their activities. They became experts in Vedic knowledge and rituals and qualified themselves as exalted Brahmins.
Sage Vyasa now describes the glories of Rishabha Deva. He was beyond the suffering caused by birth, death, old age and disease. He was unhappy to see others unhappy and was the well-wisher of all living beings. Despite being born perfect, he wanted to set the norms of conduct in everyone's life according to Varna-Ashrama Dharma. He impacted the lives of people in every aspect- in householder life, enabling them to develop spiritual and economic well-being and earn good repute. People enjoyed their householder life with their sons and daughters, experiencing earthly pleasures and also acquiring Punya for a better afterlife through Dharmic conduct.
यद्यच्छीर्षण्याचरितं तत्तदनुवर्तते लोक: ॥
T: Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow.
(We quoted from the Srimad Bhagavadgita a similar idea while discussing Prithu!)
In the social order, according to our scriptures, Brahmins should guide the Kshatriyas in terms of personal, administrative and civic life. Rishabha Deva was obedient to the counsel of Brahmins in toto. He also guided the Vaishyas (traders and agriculturists) and Shudras as was required of Kshatriyas.
Rishabha Deva conducted one hundred Yajnas with great attention to detail as per scriptures, in terms of place, time, materials and activities, thus pleasing Bhagavan immensely.
The people showed great affection towards their King Rishabha Deva that swelled constantly . They had nothing lacking in their lives during his rule.
Once, Rishabha Deva went to Brahmavarta, a holy place where Yajnas were being conducted. In the presence of sages, great Brahmins and citizens, he gave his sons a public discourse. This was done by him knowing fully well that his sons were already very well-behaved, devoted and qualified. He instructed them so that in future they could rule the world perfectly. This follows in the next Chapter.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
