Rishabha Deva (Adinath) is considered the first Tirthankar in Jainism. Here is the essence of how he lived, as taught in Jain scriptures:

• Birth and royal life

- Born in Ayodhya to King Nabhi and Queen Marudevi. - He grew up as a prince and ruled righteously, teaching governance and virtue.

• Renunciation and spiritual quest

- After years of worldly life, he renounced the throne and worldly pleasures to seek the true meaning of life. - He wandered as an ascetic, practicing deep self-discipline, self-control, non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), and detachment.

• Attainment of perfect knowledge

- Through intense penance and right conduct, he attained keval(the pure, omniscient) knowledge. - With this realization, he became a Tirthankar, guiding beings toward liberation.

• Teaching and establishing dharma

- He preached the Jain path to all beings, stressing non-violence, self-discipline, and detachment. - He organized the early Jain community (sangha) with monks, nuns, lay followers, and laywomen. - He is traditionally credited with laying down or teaching fundamentals that later Jain teachers expanded upon, such as essential vows and ethical conduct.

• Life as a teacher and legacy

- Rishabha’s teachings formed the foundation of early Jain practice and philosophy. - He is honored for creating a framework that helped generations cultivate spiritual discipline and seek liberation.

• Important notes on tradition

- Digambar and Shwetambar traditions both revere him as the first Tirthankar, but they sometimes differ in details about his life and the sequence of teachings. - The core message across traditions remains the path of non-violence, truth, restraint, and spiritual discipline as the means to liberation.

If you’d like, I can share a brief direct quote from Jain scriptures about Rishabha Deva, or point you to a specific sutra or stotra that highlights a key aspect of his life.