FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.4.3

यस्य हीन्द्र: स्पर्धमानो भगवान् वर्षे न ववर्ष तदवधार्य भगवानृषभदेवो योगेश्वर: प्रहस्यात्मयोगमायया स्ववर्षमजनाभं नामाभ्यवर्षत् ॥ ३ ॥
yasya hīndraḥ spardhamāno bhagavān varṣe na vavarṣa tad avadhārya bhagavān ṛṣabhadevo yogeśvaraḥ prahasyātma-yogamāyayā sva-varṣam ajanābhaṁ nāmābhyavarṣat.
[yasya heendrah spardhamaano bhagavaan varshe na vavarsha tad avadhaarya bhagavaan rishabhadevo yogeshvarah prahasyaatma-yogamaayayaa sva-varsham ajanaabham naamaabhyavarshat.]
yasya — of whom hi — indeed indraḥ — King Indra of heaven spardhamānaḥ — being envious bhagavān — very opulent varṣe — on Bhārata-varṣa na vavarṣa — did not pour water tat — that avadhārya — knowing bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ṛṣabhadevaḥ — Ṛṣabhadeva yoga-īśvaraḥ — the master of all mystic power prahasya — smiling ātma-yoga-māyayā — by His own spiritual potency sva-varṣam — on His place ajanābham — Ajanābha nāma — named abhyavarṣat — He poured water.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yasya hīndraḥ spardhamāno bhagavān varṣe na vavarṣa tad avadhārya bhagavān ṛṣabhadevo yogeśvaraḥ prahasyātma-yogamāyayā sva-varṣam ajanābhaṁ nāmābhyavarṣat.
yasya
of whom
hi
indeed
indraḥ
King Indra of heaven
spardhamānaḥ
being envious
bhagavān
very opulent
varṣe
on Bhārata-varṣa
na vavarṣa
did not pour water
tat
that
avadhārya
knowing
bhagavān
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
ṛṣabhadevaḥ
Ṛṣabhadeva
yoga-īśvaraḥ
the master of all mystic power
prahasya
smiling
ātma-yoga-māyayā
by His own spiritual potency
sva-varṣam
on His place
ajanābham
Ajanābha
nāma
named
abhyavarṣat
He poured water.
Indra, the King of heaven, who is very materially opulent, became envious of King Ṛṣabhadeva. Consequently he stopped pouring water on the planet known as Bhārata-varṣa. At that time the Supreme Lord, Ṛṣabhadeva, the master of all mystic power, understood King Indra’s purpose and smiled a little. Then, by His own prowess, through yoga-māyā [His internal potency], He profusely poured water upon His own place, which was known as Ajanābha.

We find the word bhagavān used twice in this verse. Both King Indra and Ṛṣabhadeva, the incarnation of the Supreme Lord, are described as bhagavān. Sometimes Nārada and Lord Brahmā are also addressed as bhagavān. The word bhagavān means that one is a very opulent and powerful person like Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Nārada or Indra. They are all addressed as bhagavān due to their extraordinary opulence. King Ṛṣabhadeva is an incarnation of the Supreme Lord, and therefore He was the original Bhagavān. Consequently He is described herein as yogeśvara, which indicates that He has the most powerful spiritual potency. He is not dependent on King Indra for water. He can supply water Himself, and He did so in this case. In Bhagavad-gītā it is stated: yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ. Due to the performance of yajña, clouds of water are manifest in the sky. Clouds and rainfall are under the management of Indra, the heavenly King, but when Indra is neglectful, the Supreme Lord Himself, who is also known as yajña or yajña-pati, takes the task upon Himself. Consequently there was sufficient rainfall in the place named Ajanābha. When yajña-pati wants to, He can do anything without the help of any subordinate. Therefore the Supreme Lord is known as almighty. In the present Age of Kali there will eventually be a great scarcity of water ( anāvṛṣṭi ), for the general populace, due to ignorance and the scarcity of yajñic ingredients, will neglect to perform yajñas. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam therefore advises: yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ. After all, yajña is meant to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this Age of Kali, there is great scarcity and ignorance; nonetheless, everyone can perform saṅkīrtana-yajña. Every family in every society can conduct saṅkīrtana-yajña at least every evening. In this way there will be no disturbance or scarcity of rain. It is essential for the people in this age to perform the saṅkīrtana-yajña in order to be materially happy and to advance spiritually.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Powerful Indra, in envy, stopped the rain from falling on the earth. Understanding this, Ṛṣabhadeva, master of yoga, smiled and poured rain on his state named Ajanābha by his power of yoga. The country was called Ajanābha after Ṛṣabhadeva (aja) and his father King Nābhi. Though grammatically is should be called Ājanābha, by poetic license it was called Ajanābha.
When the world's powers withhold their gifts out of envy, the Lord supplies what we need from His own internal potency. Real security never depended on the Indras of this world; it always rested in Kṛṣṇa.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'rain' have you been begging from someone who is currently withholding it out of envy?
  • How could you let the Lord become your supply line instead of staying anxious about that human source?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 4