Chapter 4: The Characteristics of Rishabhadeva

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Because He [the son of king Nâbhi, 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 gods longed greatly for the day that He would rule the earth. (2) Considering the in grand verses [by the poets] glorified exalted state of 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 Bhârata-varsha, but the Supreme Lord Rishabhadeva who knew [why that happened], as the master of yoga smiled about it and then from His internal [yogamâyâ] potency made the waters rain down on the place where He resided called Ajanâbha. (4) King Nâbhi who as he wanted had gotten the most beautiful son he could wish for, was in a state of illusion unto 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 ecstacy with a faltering voice said things like: 'my dear son, my darling' and thus achieved transcendental bliss while he raised Him. (5) Knowing how popular Rishabha was in His service to the citizens and the state King Nâbhi, 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 Merudevî in Badarikâs'rama, completely absorbed in yoga with great satisfaction skillfully performed austerities in worship of Nara-Nârâyana, [a plenary expansion of] the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva and thus he in the course of time reached His glorious abode [Vaikunthha].

(6) Oh son of Pându [Parîkchit, see family tree], two verses are recited about him: 'Which person following the example of the pious king Nâbhi can do what he did and by the purity of his actions receive the Supreme Personality of God as his son?' and: (7) 'Is there besides Nâbhi a better devotee of the brahmins? They being satisfied and honored by him were able to show him in the sacrificial arena the Supreme Enjoyer of all sacrifices.'

 (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 gifts upon finishing His studies. Being ordered to take up the duties of a householder He married with Jayantî who had been offered to Him by Indra and 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 via his sons with daughters-in-law] that 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 this land by the people is called Bhârata-varsha. (10) Of the ninety-nine other sons who were born after Bharata, the eldest ones were called Kus'âvarta, Ilâvarta, Brahmâvarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprik, Vidarbha and Kîkatha. (11-12) Of the rest of them Kavi, Havi, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalâyana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhâjana were nine highly advanced devotees in defense of the truth of this Bhâgavatam. 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 Vâsudeva and Nârada that brings the mind the highest satisfaction. (13) The eighty-one youngest sons of Jayantî were, faithful to their fathers words, well cultured with a fine command of the scriptural truths and were very skilled in performing sacrifices. Very pure in their actions, they became great brahmins.

(14) The Supreme Lord named Rishabha was indeed a completely independent Lordship full of transcendental bliss, a person always transcendental to the miseries of material life [birth,  old age disease and death]. By executing strictly to the tradition, He equipoised and unperturbed, friendly and merciful educated [by His example] the ignorant of whose neglect in performing the dharma in the course of time only contrary karmic actions are found, and regulated for the common people the righteousness 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) Everything that is done by leading personalities is followed by the common people [see also B.G 3: 21]. (16) Despite of knowing everything about the duties relating to the confidential Vedic instructions, He still [as a kshatriya] followed the path of the brahmins and ruled the people with equal rights and such. (17) He, worshiping [Vishnu] performed, with [also] respecting the different gods and purposes and in line with the instructions providing for everything that was needed, according to time and circumstance all kinds of ceremonial sacrifices a hundred times over 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 wouldn't 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 Brahmâvarta [between the rivers the Sarasvatî and Drishadvatî to the north west of Hastinâpura] 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 of the fact that they excelled in self-control and devotion.'