FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.6.8

अथ समीरवेगविधूतवेणुविकर्षणजातोग्रदावानलस्तद्वनमालेलिहान: सह तेन ददाह ॥ ८ ॥
atha samīra-vega-vidhūta-veṇu-vikarṣaṇa-jātogra-dāvānalas tad vanam ālelihānaḥ saha tena dadāha.
[atha sameera-vega-vidhoota-venu-vikarshana-jaatogra-daavaanalas tad vanam aalelihaanah saha tena dadaaha.]
Word-for-word
atha — thereafter samīra-vega — by the force of the wind vidhūta — tossed about veṇu — of bamboos vikarṣaṇa — by the rubbing jāta — produced ugra — fierce dāva-analaḥ — a forest fire tat — that vanam — forest near Kuṭakācala ālelihānaḥ — devouring all around saha — with tena — that body dadāha — burned to ashes.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
atha samīra-vega-vidhūta-veṇu-vikarṣaṇa-jātogra-dāvānalas tad vanam ālelihānaḥ saha tena dadāha.
atha
thereafter
samīra-vega
by the force of the wind
vidhūta
tossed about
veṇu
of bamboos
vikarṣaṇa
by the rubbing
jāta
produced
ugra
fierce
dāva-analaḥ
a forest fire
tat
that
vanam
forest near Kuṭakācala
ālelihānaḥ
devouring all around
saha
with
tena
that body
dadāha
burned to ashes.
While He was wandering about, a wild forest fire began. This fire was caused by the friction of bamboos, which were being blown by the wind. In that fire, the entire forest near Kuṭakācala and the body of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva were burnt to ashes.
Purport

Such a forest fire can burn the external bodies of animals, but Lord Ṛṣabhadeva was not burned, although He apparently seemed so. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the Supersoul of all living entities within the forest, and His soul is never burned by fire. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, adāhyo ’yam — the soul is never burned by fire. Due to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s presence, all the animals in the forest were also liberated from material encagement.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
An intense forest fire created by the rubbing of bamboos agitated by the force of the wind, devouring everything, burned up the forest along with Ṛṣabhadeva. It has mentioned that he disappeared. How did this happen? This verse describes the event. The fire burned up the forest along with Ṛṣabhadeva. The fire burned up the gross bodies of trees and animals in that forest. Ṛṣabhadeva burned up their subtle bodies. Thus by his mercy, all the animals and plants attained liberation.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Outer destruction does not touch the soul, even when the body burns. By the Lord's presence, even surrounding creatures benefit. Holiness has ripple effects far beyond the holy person's intentions.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose presence in your life has quietly liberated those around it, including you?
  • Where could your sustained spiritual practice begin to ripple out for others' benefit, even unintentionally?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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