Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.5.29

jadāndha-mūka-badhira-piśāconmādakavad-avadhūta-vesho 'bhibhāshyamāno 'pi janānām grihīta-mauna-vratas tūshnīm babhūva

SYNONYMS

jada — idle; andha — blind; mūka — dumb; badhira — deaf; piśāca — ghost; unmādaka — a madman; vat — like; avadhūta-veshah — appearing like an avadhūta (having no concern with the material world); abhibhāshyamānah — being thus addressed (as deaf, dumb and blind); api — although; janānām — by the people; grihīta — took; mauna — of silence; vratah — the vow; tūshnīm babhūva — He remained silent.

TRANSLATION

After accepting the feature of avadhūta, a great saintly person without material cares, Lord Rishabhadeva passed through human society like a blind, deaf and dumb man, an idle stone, a ghost or a madman. Although people called Him such names, He remained silent and did not speak to anyone.

PURPORT

The word avadhūta refers to one who does not care for social conventions, particularly the varnāśrama-dharma. However, such a person may be situated fully within himself and be satisfied with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, on whom he meditates. In other words, one who has surpassed the rules and regulations of varnāśrama-dharma is called avadhūta. Such a person has already surpassed the clutches of māyā, and he lives completely separate and independent.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness