Ṛshabha

Ṛshabha, “the bull; the best”

Ṛshabha is a name used for more than one being and place in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

Devatās

  • Ṛshabhadeva: Ṛshabhadeva, an avatāra of Bhagavān Vishṇu, son of King Nābhi and father of Bharata, who left the world as an avadhūta. Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 107; Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapters 3–6

People

  • Ṛshabha Yogī: the great yogī who taught the prince Bhadrāyu and gave him the Śiva Kavaca. Skanda Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, Chapters 10–12; Pañcākshara Māhātmya
  • Ṛshabha Muni: a brahmarshi of the Nara-Nārāyaṇa āśrama who teaches the Ṛshabha Gītā on the pain of hope in an unworthy person. Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Rājadharmānuśāsana Parva, Chapters 125–128

Named in passing

  • Ṛshabha, avatāra of the ninth manvantara: the form in which Śrī Hari will be born to Āyushmat and Ambudhārā in the ninth manvantara, to win the three worlds and give them to Adbhuta; told in Manvantaras. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 8, Chapter 13
  • Ṛshabha, son of Indra: one of the three sons of Indra by Śacī, with Jayanta and Mīḍhvān; told in Indra. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 6, Chapter 18
  • Ṛshabha, a rākshasa captain: one of Vṛtra’s rākshasa captains against whom Indra went to battle; told in Indra. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 6, Chapter 10
  • Ṛshabha, a mountain of Meru: one of the twenty mountains Īśvara set around the base of Meru; told in Meru Parvata. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 16
  • Ṛshabha, a mountain of Bhārata: one of the twenty-seven mountains of Bhārata khaṇḍa; told in Bhārata Varsha. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 19
  • Ṛshabha, a varṇa of Krauñca Dvīpa: the second of its four varṇas, Purusha, Ṛshabha, Draviṇa and Devaka, who worship Īśvara in the form of the waters; told in Krauñca Dvīpa. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 20
  • Ṛshabha, the diggaja: one of the four great elephants Brahmā placed on the top of Lokāloka to hold up the three worlds; told in Diggajas. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 20
  • Ṛshabha, son of Kuśāgra: a king of the line of Bṛhadratha, son of Kuśāgra and father of Satyahita; told in Soma-Vaṃśa. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 9, Chapter 22
  • Ṛshabha, son of Svāhya: the father of Śvaphalka in the line of Anamitra; told in Soma-Vaṃśa. Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 275