BHARATA-VARSA

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SB 5.4 The Characteristics of Rsabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

 

SB 5.4 Summary The Characteristics of Rsabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead In this chapter, Rsabhadeva, the son of Maharaja Nabhi, begot a

hundred sons, and during the reign of those sons the world was very happy in

all respects. When Rsabhadeva appeared as the son of Maharaja Nabhi, He was

appreciated by the people as the most exalted and beautiful personality of that

age. His poise, influence, strength, enthusiasm, bodily luster and other

transcendental qualities were beyond compare. The word rsabha refers to the

best, or the supreme. Due to the superexcellent attributes of the son of

Maharaja Nabhi, the King named his son Rsabha, or "the best." His influence was

incomparable. Although there was a scarcity of rain, Rsabhadeva did not care for

Indra, the King of heaven, who is in charge of supplying rain. Through His own

potency, Rsabhadeva sumptuously covered Ajanabha with ample rain. Upon

receiving Rsabhadeva, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as his son,

King Nabhi began to raise Him very carefully. After that, he entrusted the

ruling power to Him and, retiring from family life, lived at Badarikasrama

completely engaged in the worship of Vasudeva, the Supreme Lord. To follow

social customs, Lord Rsabhadeva for a while became a student in the gurukula,

and after returning, He followed the orders of His guru and accepted a wife

named Jayanti, who had been given to Him by the King of heaven, Indra. He begot

a hundred sons in the womb of Jayanti. Of these hundred sons, the eldest was

known as Bharata. Since the reign of Maharaja Bharata, this planet has been

called Bharata-varsa. Rsabhadeva's other sons were headed by Kusavarta,

Ilavarta, Brahmavarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprk, Vidarbha and

Kikata. There were also other sons named Kavi, Havi, Antariksa, Prabuddha,

Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhajana. Instead of ruling the

kingdom, these nine became mendicant preachers of Krsna consciousness,

following the religious precepts of the Bhagavatam. Their characteristics and

activities are described in the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam during the

talks between Vasudeva and Narada at Kuruksetra. To teach the general populace,

King Rsabhadeva performed many sacrifices and taught His sons how to rule the

citizens.