SB 5.6.13

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Fifth Canto - Chapter 6: The Activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva

SB 5.6.12 - SB 5.6.14

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 13

tasyānuguṇān ślokān gāyanti—

aho bhuvaḥ sapta-samudravatyā

dvīpeṣu varṣeṣv adhipuṇyam etat

gāyanti yatratya-janā murāreḥ

karmāṇi bhadrāṇy avatāravanti

SYNONYMS

tasya — of Him (Lord Ṛṣabhadeva); anuguṇān — conforming to the instructions for liberation; ślokān — verses; gāyanti — chant; aho — oh; bhuvaḥ — of this earthly planet; sapta-samudra-vatyāḥ — possessing seven seas; dvīpeṣu — among the islands; varṣeṣu — among the lands; adhipuṇyam — more pious than any other island; etat — this (Bhārata-varṣa); gāyanti — sing about; yatratya-janāḥ — the people of this tract of land; murāreḥ — of Murāri, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; karmāṇi — the activities; bhadrāṇi — all-auspicious; avatāravanti — in many incarnations such as Lord Ṛṣabhadeva.

TRANSLATION

Learned scholars chant about the transcendental qualities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva in this way: "Oh, this earthly planet contains seven seas and many islands and lands, of which Bhārata-varṣa is considered the most pious. People of Bhārata-varṣa are accustomed to glorifying the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnations as Lord Ṛṣabhadeva and others. All these activities are very auspicious for the welfare of humanity.

PURPORT

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said:

bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra

janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra

(CC Adi 9.41)

As stated in this verse, Bhārata-varṣa is a most pious land. The followers of Vedic literature understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different incarnations, and they are privileged to glorify the Lord by following the directions of Vedic literature. After realizing the glories of human life. such people should take up the mission to spread the importance of human life throughout the whole world. This is the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The word adhipuṇyam indicates that there are certainly many other pious men throughout the world, but the people of Bhārata-varṣa are even more pious. Therefore they are fit to spread Kṛṣṇa Consciousness throughout the world for the benefit of all human society. Śrīla Madhvācārya also recognizes the land of Bhārata-varṣa: viśeṣād bhārate puṇyam. Throughout the world, there is no question of bhagavad-bhakti or devotional service, but the people of Bhārata-varṣa can easily understand the devotional service of the Lord. Thus every inhabitant of Bhārata-varṣa can perfect his life by discharging bhagavad-bhakti and then preaching this cult throughout the world for the benefit of everyone.

SB 5.6.12 - SB 5.6.14