FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.6.12

अयमवतारो रजसोपप्लुतकैवल्योपशिक्षणार्थ: ॥ १२ ॥
ayam avatāro rajasopapluta-kaivalyopaśikṣaṇārthaḥ.
[ayam avataaro rajasopapluta-kaivalyopashikshanaarthah.]
ayam avatāraḥ — this incarnation (Lord Ṛṣabhadeva) rajasā — by the mode of passion upapluta — overwhelmed kaivalya-upaśikṣaṇa-arthaḥ — to teach people the path of liberation.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ayam avatāro rajasopapluta-kaivalyopaśikṣaṇārthaḥ.
ayam avatāraḥ
this incarnation (Lord Ṛṣabhadeva)
rajasā
by the mode of passion
upapluta
overwhelmed
kaivalya-upaśikṣaṇa-arthaḥ
to teach people the path of liberation.
In this Age of Kali, people are overwhelmed by the modes of passion and ignorance. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva incarnated Himself to deliver them from the clutches of māyā.

The symptoms of Kali-yuga are predicted in the Twelfth Canto, Third Chapter, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Lāvaṇyaṁ keśa-dhāraṇam. It is predicted how fallen souls will behave. They will keep their hair long and consider themselves very beautiful, or they will pluck out their hair as the Jains do. They will keep themselves unclean and will not wash their mouths. Jains refer to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva as their original preceptor. If such people are serious followers of Ṛṣabhadeva, they must also take His instructions. In the Fifth Chapter of this canto, Ṛṣabhadeva gave His one hundred sons instructions whereby they could become free from the clutches of māyā. If one actually follows Ṛṣabhadeva, he will certainly be delivered from the clutches of māyā and return home, back to Godhead. If one strictly follows the instructions of Ṛṣabhadeva given in the Fifth Chapter, he will certainly be liberated. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva incarnated specifically to deliver these fallen souls.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Ṛṣabhadeva appeared in this world to teach liberation which had become lost due to the influence of time. When Ṛṣabhadeva appeared, the jñānīs of that time were supposed to follow his example. He came to teach jñāna-yoga which had been lost due to the influence of time (rajosopapluta). Or he came to teach the path of liberation to those overcome by rajoguṇa. People of Satya, Treta and Dvāparā yugas could follow his teachings, but the people of Kali-yuga should only hear about him.
Kali-yuga drowns souls in passion and ignorance. The Lord's appearance, and the recorded teachings He left, are the lifeboat. Don't be casual about scripture — it is the rescue mechanism for an age built to forget.
Reflection Questions
  • How seriously are you treating scripture as a lifeboat rather than a hobby?
  • What in this age is currently pulling you toward passion and ignorance, and where is the lifeboat right now?
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