अथ ह तमुत्पत्त्यैवाभिव्यज्यमानभगवल्लक्षणं साम्योपशमवैराग्यैश्वर्यमहा
विभूतिभिरनुदिनमेध मानानुभावं प्रकृतयः प्रजा ब्राह्मणा देवताश्चावनितल
समवनायातितरां जगृधुः ॥१॥
Å›rÄ«-Å›uka uvÄca
atha ha tam utpattyaivÄbhivyajyamÄna-bhagaval-laká¹£aṇaá¹ sÄmyopaÅ›ama-vairÄgyaiÅ›varya-mahÄ-vibhÅ«tibhir anudinam edhamÄnÄnubhÄvaá¹ praká¹›tayaḥ prajÄ brÄhmaá¹‡Ä devatÄÅ› cÄvani-tala-samavanÄyÄtitarÄá¹ jagá¹›dhuḥ
Å›rÄ«-Å›ukaḥ uvÄca - ÅšrÄ« Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ« said; atha ha - thus (after the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared); tam - Him; utpattyÄ - from the beginning of His appearance; eva - even; abhivyajyamÄna - distinctly manifested; bhagavat-laká¹£aṇam - possessing the symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sÄmya - equal to everyone; upaÅ›ama - completely peaceful, in control of the senses and mind; vairÄgya - renunciation; aiÅ›varya - opulences; mahÄ-vibhÅ«tibhiḥ - with great attributes; anudinam - day after day; edhamÄna - increasing; anubhÄvam - His power; praká¹›tayaḥ - the ministers; prajÄḥ - the citizens; brÄhmaṇÄḥ - the learned scholars in full knowledge of Brahman; devatÄḥ - the demigods; ca - and; avani-tala - the surface of the globe; samavanÄya - to rule; atitarÄm - greatly; jagá¹›dhuḥ - desired.
ÅšrÄ« Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ« said: As soon as the Lord was born as the son of MahÄrÄja NÄbhi, He manifested symptoms of the Supreme Lord, such as marks on the bottoms of His feet [the flag, thunderbolt, etc.]. This son was equal to everyone and very peaceful. He could control His senses and His mind, and, possessing all opulence, He did not hanker for material enjoyment. Endowed with all these attributes, the son of MahÄrÄja NÄbhi became more powerful day after day. Due to this, the citizens, learned brÄhmaṇas, demigods and ministers wanted Ṛṣabhadeva to be appointed ruler of the earth.
In these days of cheap incarnations, it is very interesting to note the bodily symptoms found in an incarnation. From the very beginning of His birth, it was observed that Ṛṣabhadeva’s feet were marked with the transcendental signs (a flag, thunderbolt, lotus flower, etc.). In addition to this, as the Lord began to grow He became very prominent. He was equal to everyone. He did not favor one person and neglect another. An incarnation of God must have the six opulences — wealth, strength, knowledge, beauty, fame and renunciation. It is said that although Ṛṣabhadeva was endowed with all opulences, He was not at all attached to material enjoyment. He was self-controlled and therefore liked by everyone. Due to His superexcellent qualities, everyone wanted Him to rule the earth. An incarnation of God has to be accepted by experienced people and by the symptoms described in the Å›Ästras. An incarnation is not accepted simply by the adulation of foolish people.
