Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.4.8
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyTeach Devotion Through Your Own Example
“After Nābhi Mahārāja departed for Badarikāśrama, the Supreme Lord, Ṛṣabhadeva, understood that His kingdom was His field of activities. He therefore showed Himself as an example and taught the duties of a householder by first accepting brahmacarya under the direction of spiritual masters. He also went to live at the spiritual masters’ place, gurukula. After His education was finished, He gave gifts (guru-dakṣiṇā) to His spiritual masters and then accepted the life of a householder. He took a wife named Jayantī and begot one hundred sons who were as powerful and qualified as He Himself. His wife Jayantī had been offered to Him by Indra, the King of heaven. Ṛṣabhadeva and Jayantī performed householder life in an exemplary way, carrying out ritualistic activities ordained by the śruti and smṛti śāstra.”
What the purport teaches
- Although Ṛṣabhadeva was the all-knowing Supreme Lord, He attended gurukula to show how to learn from qualified Vedic teachers. One cannot truly teach others without practicing the teaching oneself.
- Ṛṣabhadeva lived as an ideal householder with Jayantī, following śruti and smṛti. He also taught His sons how to become perfect in spiritual life.
- Spiritual practice must follow the instructions of Vedic literature rather than disregard them. Everyone should advance in worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and ultimately return home, back to Godhead.
Try this today
Choose one spiritual instruction you have received and put it into practice today before advising anyone else about it.
Ask yourself
Does my own conduct reflect the spiritual principles I encourage others to follow?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.