150 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 4
householder life in an examplary way, carrying out ritualistic ac-
tivities ordained by the sruti and smrti sastra.
PURPORT

Being an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Rsabhadeva had nothing to do with material affairs. As stated in
Bhagavad-gitd, paritrandya sddhiinam vindsdya ca duskrtam: the pur-
pose of an incarnation is to liberate His devotees and to stop the demoniac
activities of nondevotees. These are the two functions of the Supreme
Lord when He incarnates. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. has said that in
order to preach, one must live a practical life and show people how to do
things. Apani dcari’ bhakti sikhdimu sabare. One cannot teach others
unless he behaves the same way himself. Rsabhadeva was an ideal king,
and He took His education in the gurukula, although He was already
educated because the Supreme Lord is omniscient. Although Rsabhadeva
had nothing to learn from gurukula, He went there just to teach the peo-
ple in general how to take an education from the right source, from Vedic
teachers. He then entered householder life and lived according to the
principles of Vedic knowledge —sruti and smrti. In his Bhakti-rasamrta-
sindhu (1.2.10) Srila Rapa Gosvami, quoting the Skanda Purana, states:

Sruti-smrti-puranadi-
pancaratra-vidhim vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir
utpatayaiva kalpate

Human society must follow the instructions received from sruti and
smrti, Vedic literature. Practically applied in life this is worship of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead according to the pdvcaratrika-vidhi.
Every human being must advance his spiritual life and at the end return
home, back to Godhead. Maharaja Rsabhadeva strictly followed all these
principles. He remained an ideal grhastha and taught His sons how to
become perfect in spiritual life. These are some examples of how He
ruled the earth and completed His mission as an incarnation.
