CHAPTER SIX
The Activities of Lord Rṣabhadeva
This chapter tells how Lord Rṣabhadeva left His body. He was not attached to His body even when it was being burned up in a forest fire. When the seed of fruitive activity is burned by the fire of knowledge, the spiritual properties and mystic powers are automatically manifest, yet  bhakti-yoga  is not affected by these mystic powers. An ordinary  yogī  is captivated by mystic powers and his progress checked; therefore a perfect  yogī  does not welcome them. Because the mind is restless and undependable, it must remain always under control. Even the mind of the advanced  yogī  Saubhari created such a disturbance that he lost his yogic mystic powers. Due to a restless mind, even a very advanced  yogī  can fall down. The mind is so restless that it induces even a perfect  yogī  to be controlled by the senses. Therefore Lord Rṣabhadeva, for the instruction of all  yogīs , showed the process of quitting the body. While traveling in South India, through the provinces of Karṇāṭa, Koṇka, Veṇka and Kuṭaka, Lord Rṣabhadeva arrived in the neighborhood of Kuṭakācala. Suddenly there was a forest fire that burned the forest and Lord Rṣabhadeva's body to ashes. The pastimes of Lord Rṣabhadeva as a liberated soul were known by the King of Koṇka, Veṇka and Kuṭaka. This King's name was Arhat. He later became captivated by the illusory energy, and in this condition he set forth the basic principles of Jainism. Lord Rṣabhadeva set forth the principles of religion that can free one from material bondage, and He put an end to all kinds of atheistic activities. On this earth, the place known as Bhārata-varṣa was a very pious land because the Supreme Lord appeared there when He wanted to incarnate.
Lord Rṣabhadeva neglected all the mystic powers for which the so-called  yogīs  hanker. Because of the beauty of devotional service, devotees are not at all interested in so-called mystic power. The master of all yogic power, Lord Kṛṣṇa, can exhibit all powers on behalf of His devotee. Devotional service is more valuable than yogic mystic powers. Devotees who are sometimes misled aspire for liberation and mystic powers. The
219