Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 5 · Chapter 10

The Discussion Between Jaḍa Bharata and Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa

5.10.1

श्रीशुक उवाच अथ सिन्धुसौवीरपते रहूगणस्य व्रजत इक्षुमत्यास्तटे तत्कुलपतिना शिबिकावाहपुरुषान्वेषणसमये दैवेनोपसादित: स द्विजवर उपलब्ध एष पीवा युवा संहननाङ्गो गोखरवद्धुरं वोढुमलमिति पूर्वविष्टिगृहीतै: सह गृहीत: प्रसभमतदर्ह उवाह शिबिकां स महानुभाव: ॥ १ ॥

sri-suka uvaca atha sindhu-sauvira-pate rahuganasya vrajata iksumatyas tate tat-kula-patina sibika-vaha-purusanvesana-samaye daivenopasaditah sa dvija-vara upalabdha esa piva yuva samhananango go-kharavad dhuram vodhum alam iti purva-visti-grhitaih saha grhitah prasabham atad-arha uvaha sibikam sa mahanubhavah.

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, after this, King Rahugana, ruler of the states known as Sindhu and Sauvira, was going to Kapilasrama. When the King’s chief palanquin carriers reached the banks of the River Iksumati, they needed another carrier. Therefore they began searching for someone, and by chance they came upon Jada Bharata. They considered the fact that Jada Bharata was very young and strong and had firm limbs. Like cows and asses, he was quite fit to carry loads. Thinking in this way, although the great soul Jada Bharata was unfit for such work, they nonetheless unhesitatingly forced him to carry the palanquin.

5.10.2

यदा हि द्विजवरस्येषुमात्रावलोकानुगतेर्न समाहिता पुरुषगतिस्तदा विषमगतां स्वशिबिकां रहूगण उपधार्य पुरुषानधिवहत आह हे वोढार: साध्वतिक्रमत किमिति विषममुह्यते यानमिति ॥ २ ॥

yada hi dvija-varasyesu-matravalokanugater na samahita purusa-gatis tada visama-gatam sva-sibikam rahugana upadharya purusan adhivahata aha he vodharah sadhv atikramata kim iti visamam uhyate yanam iti.

The palanquin, however, was very erratically carried by Jada Bharata due to his sense of nonviolence. As he stepped forward, he checked before him every three feet to see whether he was about to step on ants. Consequently he could not keep pace with the other carriers. Due to this, the palanquin was shaking, and King Rahugana immediately asked the carriers, Why are you carrying this palanquin unevenly? Better carry it properly

5.10.3

अथ त ईश्वरवच: सोपालम्भमुपाकर्ण्योपायतुरीयाच्छङ्कितमनसस्तं विज्ञापयांबभूवु: ॥ ३ ॥

atha ta isvara-vacah sopalambham upakarnyopaya-turiyac chankita-manasas tam vijnapayam babhuvuh.

When the palanquin carriers heard the threatening words of Maharaja Rahugana, they became very afraid of his punishment and began to speak to him as follows.

5.10.4

न वयं नरदेव प्रमत्ता भवन्नियमानुपथा: साध्वेव वहाम: । अयमधुनैव नियुक्तोऽपि न द्रुतं व्रजति नानेन सह वोढुमु ह वयं पारयाम इति ॥ ४ ॥

na vayam nara-deva pramatta bhavan-niyamanupathah sadhv eva vahamah ayam adhunaiva niyukto ’pi na drutam vrajati nanena saha vodhum u ha vayam parayama iti.

O lord, please note that we are not at all negligent in discharging our duties. We have been faithfully carrying this palanquin according to your desire, but this man who has been recently engaged to work with us cannot walk very swiftly. Therefore we are not able to carry the palanquin with him.

5.10.5

सांसर्गिको दोष एव नूनमेकस्यापि सर्वेषां सांसर्गिकाणां भवितुमर्हतीति निश्चित्य निशम्य कृपणवचो राजा रहूगण उपासितवृद्धोऽपि निसर्गेण बलात्कृत ईषदुत्थितमन्युरविस्पष्टब्रह्मतेजसं जातवेदसमिव रजसाऽऽवृतमतिराह ॥ ५ ॥

samsargiko dosa eva nunam ekasyapi sarvesam samsargikanam bhavitum arhatiti niscitya nisamya krpana-vaco raja rahugana upasita-vrddho ’pi nisargena balat krta isad-utthita-manyur avispasta-brahma-tejasam jata-vedasam iva rajasavrta-matir aha.

King Rahugana could understand the speeches given by the carriers, who were afraid of being punished. He could also understand that simply due to the fault of one person, the palanquin was not being carried properly. Knowing this perfectly well and hearing their appeal, he became a little angry, although he was very advanced in political science and was very experienced. His anger arose due to his inborn nature as a king. Actually King Rahugana’s mind was covered by the mode of passion, and he therefore spoke as follows to Jada Bharata, whose Brahman effulgence was not clearly visible, being covered like a fire covered by ashes.

5.10.6

अहो कष्टं भ्रातर्व्यक्तमुरुपरिश्रान्तो दीर्घमध्वानमेक एव ऊहिवान् सुचिरं नातिपीवा न संहननाङ्गो जरसा चोपद्रुतो भवान् सखे नो एवापर एते सङ्घट्टिन इति बहुविप्रलब्धोऽप्यविद्यया रचितद्रव्यगुणकर्माशयस्वचरमकलेवरेऽवस्तुनि संस्थानविशेषेऽहं ममेत्यनध्यारोपितमिथ्याप्रत्ययो ब्रह्मभूतस्तूष्णीं शिबिकां पूर्ववदुवाह ॥ ६ ॥

aho kastam bhratar vyaktam uru-parisranto dirgham adhvanam eka eva uhivan suciram nati-piva na samhananango jarasa copadruto bhavan sakhe no evapara ete sanghattina iti bahu-vipralabdho ’py avidyaya racita-dravya-guna-karmasaya-sva-carama-kalevare ’vastuni samsthana-visese ’ham mamety anadhyaropita-mithya-pratyayo brahma-bhutas tusnim sibikam purvavad uvaha.

King Rahugana told Jada Bharata: How troublesome this is, my dear brother. You certainly appear very fatigued because you have carried this palanquin alone without assistance for a long time and for a long distance. Besides that, due to your old age you have become greatly troubled. My dear friend, I see that you are not very firm, nor very strong and stout. Aren’t your fellow carriers cooperating with you? In this way the King criticized Jada Bharata with sarcastic words, yet despite being criticized in this way, Jada Bharata had no bodily conception of the situation. He knew that he was not the body, for he had attained his spiritual identity. He was neither fat, lean nor thin, nor had he anything to do with a lump of matter, a combination of the five gross and three subtle elements. He had nothing to do with the material body and its two hands and legs. In other words, he had completely realized his spiritual identity (aham brahmasmi). He was therefore unaffected by this sarcastic criticism from the King. Without saying anything, he continued carrying the palanquin as before.

5.10.7

अथ पुन: स्वशिबिकायां विषमगतायां प्रकुपित उवाच रहूगण: किमिदमरे त्वं जीवन्मृतो मां कदर्थीकृत्य भर्तृशासनमतिचरसि प्रमत्तस्य च ते करोमि चिकित्सां दण्डपाणिरिव जनताया यथा प्रकृतिं स्वां भजिष्यस इति ॥ ७ ॥

atha punah sva-sibikayam visama-gatayam prakupita uvaca rahuganah kim idam are tvam jivan-mrto mam kadarthi-krtya bhartr-sasanam aticarasi pramattasya ca te karomi cikitsam danda-panir iva janataya yatha prakrtim svam bhajisyasa iti.

Thereafter, when the King saw that his palanquin was still being shaken by the carriers, he became very angry and said: You rascal, what are you doing? Are you dead despite the life within your body? Do you not know that I am your master? You are disregarding me and are not carrying out my order. For this disobedience I shall now punish you just as Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, punishes sinful people. I shall give you proper treatment so that you will come to your senses and do the correct thing.

5.10.8

एवं बह्वबद्धमपि भाषमाणं नरदेवाभिमानं रजसा तमसानुविद्धेन मदेन तिरस्कृताशेषभगवत्प्रियनिकेतं पण्डितमानिनं स भगवान् ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मभूतसर्वभूतसुहृदात्मा योगेश्वरचर्यायां नातिव्युत्पन्नमतिं स्मयमान इव विगतस्मय इदमाह ॥ ८ ॥

evam bahv abaddham api bhasamanam nara-devabhimanam rajasa tamasanuviddhena madena tiraskrtasesa-bhagavat-priya-niketam pandita-maninam sa bhagavan brahmano brahma-bhuta-sarva-bhuta-suhrd-atma yogesvara-caryayam nati-vyutpanna-matim smayamana iva vigata-smaya idam aha.

Thinking himself a king, King Rahugana was in the bodily conception and was influenced by material nature’s modes of passion and ignorance. Due to madness, he chastised Jada Bharata with uncalled-for and contradictory words. Jada Bharata was a topmost devotee and the dear abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although considering himself very learned, the King did not know about the position of an advanced devotee situated in devotional service, nor did he know his characteristics. Jada Bharata was the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; he always carried the form of the Lord within his heart. He was the dear friend of all living beings, and he did not entertain any bodily conception. He therefore smiled and spoke the following words.

5.10.9

ब्राह्मण उवाच त्वयोदितं व्यक्तमविप्रलब्धं भर्तु: स मे स्याद्यदि वीर भार: । गन्तुर्यदि स्यादधिगम्यमध्वा पीवेति राशौ न विदां प्रवाद: ॥ ९ ॥

brahmana uvaca tvayoditam vyaktam avipralabdham bhartuh sa me syad yadi vira bharah gantur yadi syad adhigamyam adhva piveti rasau na vidam pravadah

The great brahmana Jada Bharata said: My dear King and hero, whatever you have spoken sarcastically is certainly true. Actually these are not simply words of chastisement, for the body is the carrier. The load carried by the body does not belong to me, for I am the spirit soul. There is no contradiction in your statements because I am different from the body. I am not the carrier of the palanquin; the body is the carrier. Certainly, as you have hinted, I have not labored carrying the palanquin, for I am detached from the body. You have said that I am not stout and strong, and these words are befitting a person who does not know the distinction between the body and the soul. The body may be fat or thin, but no learned man would say such things of the spirit soul. As far as the spirit soul is concerned, I am neither fat nor skinny; therefore you are correct when you say that I am not very stout. Also, if the object of this journey and the path leading there were mine, there would be many troubles for me, but because they relate not to me but to my body, there is no trouble at all.

5.10.10

स्थौल्यं कार्श्यं व्याधय आधयश्च क्षुत्तृड् भयं कलिरिच्छा जरा च । निद्रा रतिर्मन्युरहंमद: शुचो देहेन जातस्य हि मे न सन्ति ॥ १० ॥

sthaulyam karsyam vyadhaya adhayas ca ksut trd bhayam kalir iccha jara ca nidra ratir manyur aham madah suco dehena jatasya hi me na santi

Fatness, thinness, bodily and mental distress, thirst, hunger, fear, disagreement, desires for material happiness, old age, sleep, attachment for material possessions, anger, lamentation, illusion and identification of the body with the self are all transformations of the material covering of the spirit soul. A person absorbed in the material bodily conception is affected by these things, but I am free from all bodily conceptions. Consequently I am neither fat nor skinny nor anything else you have mentioned.

5.10.11

जीवन्मृतत्वं नियमेन राजन् आद्यन्तवद्यद्विकृतस्य द‍ृष्टम् । स्वस्वाम्यभावो ध्रुव ईड्य यत्र तर्ह्युच्यतेऽसौ विधिकृत्ययोग: ॥ ११ ॥

jivan-mrtatvam niyamena rajan adyantavad yad vikrtasya drstam sva-svamya-bhavo dhruva idya yatra tarhy ucyate ’sau vidhikrtya-yogah

My dear King, you have unnecessarily accused me of being dead though alive. In this regard, I can only say that this is the case everywhere because everything material has its beginning and end. As far as your thinking that you are the king and master and are thus trying to order me, this is also incorrect because these positions are temporary. Today you are a king and I am your servant, but tomorrow the position may be changed, and you may be my servant and I your master. These are temporary circumstances created by providence.

5.10.12

विशेषबुद्धेर्विवरं मनाक् च पश्याम यन्न व्यवहारतोऽन्यत् । क ईश्वरस्तत्र किमीशितव्यं तथापि राजन् करवाम किं ते ॥ १२ ॥

visesa-buddher vivaram manak ca pasyama yan na vyavaharato ’nyat ka isvaras tatra kim isitavyam tathapi rajan karavama kim te

My dear King, if you still think that you are the King and that I am your servant, you should order me, and I should follow your order. I can then say that this differentiation is temporary, and it expands only from usage or convention. I do not see any other cause. In that case, who is the master, and who is the servant? Everyone is being forced by the laws of material nature; therefore no one is master, and no one is servant. Nonetheless, if you think that you are the master and that I am the servant, I shall accept this. Please order me. What can I do for you?

5.10.13

उन्मत्तमत्तजडवत्स्वसंस्थां गतस्य मे वीर चिकित्सितेन । अर्थ: कियान् भवता शिक्षितेन स्तब्धप्रमत्तस्य च पिष्टपेष: ॥ १३ ॥

unmatta-matta-jadavat sva-samstham gatasya me vira cikitsitena arthah kiyan bhavata siksitena stabdha-pramattasya ca pistapesah

My dear King, you have said, You rascal, you dull, crazy fellow! I am going to chastise you, and then you will come to your senses In this regard, let me say that although I live like a dull, deaf and dumb man, I am actually a self-realized person. What will you gain by punishing me? If your calculation is true and I am a madman, then your punishment will be like beating a dead horse. There will be no effect. When a madman is punished, he is not cured of his madness.

5.10.14

श्रीशुक उवाच एतावदनुवादपरिभाषया प्रत्युदीर्य मुनिवर उपशमशील उपरतानात्म्यनिमित्त उपभोगेन कर्मारब्धं व्यपनयन् राजयानमपि तथोवाह ॥ १४ ॥

sri-suka uvaca etavad anuvada-paribhasaya pratyudirya muni-vara upasama-sila uparatanatmya-nimitta upabhogena karmarabdham vyapanayan raja-yanam api tathovaha.

Sukadeva Gosvami said: O Maharaja Pariksit, when King Rahugana chastised the exalted devotee Jada Bharata with harsh words, that peaceful, saintly person tolerated it all and replied properly. Nescience is due to the bodily conception, and Jada Bharata was not affected by this false conception. Out of his natural humility, he never considered himself a great devotee, and he agreed to suffer the results of his past karma. Like an ordinary man, he thought that by carrying the palanquin, he was destroying the reactions of his past misdeeds. Thinking in this way, he began to carry the palanquin as before.

5.10.15

स चापि पाण्डवेय सिन्धुसौवीरपतिस्तत्त्वजिज्ञासायां सम्यक्‌श्रद्धयाधिकृताधिकारस्तद्‌धृदयग्रन्थिमोचनं द्विजवच आश्रुत्य बहुयोगग्रन्थसम्मतं त्वरयावरुह्य शिरसा पादमूलमुपसृत: क्षमापयन् विगतनृपदेवस्मय उवाच ॥ १५ ॥

sa capi pandaveya sindhu-sauvira-patis tattva-jijnasayam samyak-sraddhayadhikrtadhikaras tad dhrdaya-granthi-mocanam dvija-vaca asrutya bahu-yoga-grantha-sammatam tvarayavaruhya sirasa pada-mulam upasrtah ksamapayan vigata-nrpa-deva-smaya uvaca.

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O best of the Pandu dynasty (Maharaja Pariksit), the King of the Sindhu and Sauvira states (Maharaja Rahugana) had great faith in discussions of the Absolute Truth. Being thus qualified, he heard from Jada Bharata that philosophical presentation which is approved by all scriptures on the mystic yoga process and which slackens the knot in the heart. His material conception of himself as a king was thus destroyed. He immediately descended from his palanquin and fell flat on the ground with his head at the lotus feet of Jada Bharata in such a way that he might be excused for his insulting words against the great brahmana. He then prayed as follows.

5.10.16

कस्त्वं निगूढश्चरसि द्विजानां बिभर्षि सूत्रं कतमोऽवधूत: । कस्यासि कुत्रत्य इहापि कस्मात् क्षेमाय नश्चेदसि नोत शुक्ल: ॥ १६ ॥

kas tvam nigudhas carasi dvijanam bibharsi sutram katamo ’vadhutah kasyasi kutratya ihapi kasmat ksemaya nas ced asi nota suklah

King Rahugana said: O brahmana, you appear to be moving in this world very much covered and unknown to others. Who are you? Are you a learned brahmana and saintly person? I see that you are wearing a sacred thread. Are you one of those exalted, liberated saints such as Dattatreya and other highly advanced, learned scholars? May I ask whose disciple you are? Where do you live? Why have you come to this place? Is your mission in coming here to do good for us? Please let me know who you are.

5.10.17

नाहं विशङ्के सुरराजवज्रा- न्न त्र्यक्षशूलान्न यमस्य दण्डात् । नाग्‍न्‍यर्कसोमानिलवित्तपास्त्रा- च्छङ्के भृशं ब्रह्मकुलावमानात् ॥ १७ ॥

naham visanke sura-raja-vajran na tryaksa-sulan na yamasya dandat nagny-arka-somanila-vittapastrac chanke bhrsam brahma-kulavamanat

My dear sir, I am not at all afraid of the thunderbolt of King Indra, nor am I afraid of the serpentine, piercing trident of Lord Siva. I do not care about the punishment of Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, nor am I afraid of fire, scorching sun, moon, wind, nor the weapons of Kuvera. Yet I am afraid of offending a brahmana. I am very much afraid of this.

5.10.18

तद्ब्रूह्यसङ्गो जडवन्निगूढ- विज्ञानवीर्यो विचरस्यपार: । वचांसि योगग्रथितानि साधो न न: क्षमन्ते मनसापि भेत्तुम् ॥ १८ ॥

tad bruhy asango jadavan nigudha- vijnana-viryo vicarasy aparah vacamsi yoga-grathitani sadho na nah ksamante manasapi bhettum

My dear sir, it appears that the influence of your great spiritual knowledge is hidden. Factually you are bereft of all material association and fully absorbed in the thought of the Supreme. Consequently you are unlimitedly advanced in spiritual knowledge. Please tell me why you are wandering around like a dullard. O great, saintly person, you have spoken words approved by the yogic process, but it is not possible for us to understand what you have said. Therefore kindly explain it.

5.10.19

अहं च योगेश्वरमात्मतत्त्व- विदां मुनीनां परमं गुरुं वै । प्रष्टुं प्रवृत्त: किमिहारणं तत् साक्षाद्धरिं ज्ञानकलावतीर्णम् ॥ १९ ॥

aham ca yogesvaram atma-tattva- vidam muninam paramam gurum vai prastum pravrttah kim iharanam tat saksad dharim jnana-kalavatirnam

I consider your good self the most exalted master of mystic power. You know the spiritual science perfectly well. You are the most exalted of all learned sages, and you have descended for the benefit of all human society. You have come to give spiritual knowledge, and you are a direct representative of Kapiladeva, the incarnation of God and the plenary portion of knowledge. I am therefore asking you, O spiritual master, what is the most secure shelter in this world?

5.10.20

स वै भवाँल्लोकनिरीक्षणार्थ- मव्यक्तलिङ्गो विचरत्यपिस्वित् । योगेश्वराणां गतिमन्धबुद्धि: कथं विचक्षीत गृहानुबन्ध: ॥ २० ॥

sa vai bhaval loka-niriksanartham avyakta-lingo vicaraty api svit yogesvaranam gatim andha-buddhih katham vicaksita grhanubandhah

Is it not a fact that your good self is the direct representative of Kapiladeva, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? To examine people and see who is actually a human being and who is not, you have presented yourself to be a deaf and dumb person. Are you not moving this way upon the surface of the world? I am very attached to family life and worldly activities, and I am blind to spiritual knowledge. Nonetheless, I am now present before you and am seeking enlightenment from you. How can I advance in spiritual life?

5.10.21

द‍ृष्ट: श्रम: कर्मत आत्मनो वै भर्तुर्गन्तुर्भवतश्चानुमन्ये । यथासतोदानयनाद्यभावात् समूल इष्टो व्यवहारमार्ग: ॥ २१ ॥

drstah sramah karmata atmano vai bhartur gantur bhavatas canumanye yathasatodanayanady-abhavat samula isto vyavahara-margah

You have said, I am not fatigued from labor Although the soul is different from the body, there is fatigue because of bodily labor, and it appears to be the fatigue of the soul. When you are carrying the palanquin, there is certainly labor for the soul. This is my conjecture. You have also said that the external behavior exhibited between the master and the servant is not factual, but although in the phenomenal world it is not factual, the products of the phenomenal world can actually affect things. That is visible and experienced. As such, even though material activities are impermanent, they cannot be said to be untrue.

5.10.22

स्थाल्यग्नितापात्पयसोऽभिताप- स्तत्तापतस्तण्डुलगर्भरन्धि: । देहेन्द्रियास्वाशयसन्निकर्षात् तत्संसृति: पुरुषस्यानुरोधात् ॥ २२ ॥

sthaly-agni-tapat payaso ’bhitapas tat-tapatas tandula-garbha-randhih dehendriyasvasaya-sannikarsat tat-samsrtih purusasyanurodhat

King Rahugana continued: My dear sir, you have said that designations like bodily fatness and thinness are not characteristics of the soul. That is incorrect because designations like pain and pleasure are certainly felt by the soul. You may put a pot of milk and rice within fire, and the milk and rice are automatically heated one after the other. Similarly, due to bodily pains and pleasures, the senses, mind and soul are affected. The soul cannot be completely detached from this conditioning.

5.10.23

शास्ताभिगोप्ता नृपति: प्रजानांय: किङ्करो वै न पिनष्टि पिष्टम् । स्वधर्ममाराधनमच्युतस्ययदीहमानो विजहात्यघौघम् ॥ २३ ॥

sastabhigopta nrpatih prajanam yah kinkaro vai na pinasti pistam sva-dharmam aradhanam acyutasya yad ihamano vijahaty aghaugham

My dear sir, you have said that the relationship between the king and the subject or between the master and the servant are not eternal, but although such relationships are temporary, when a person takes the position of a king, his duty is to rule the citizens and punish those who are disobedient to the laws. By punishing them, he teaches the citizens to obey the laws of the state. Again, you have said that punishing a person who is deaf and dumb is like chewing the chewed or grinding the pulp; that is to say, there is no benefit in it. However, if one is engaged in his own occupational duty as ordered by the Supreme Lord, his sinful activities are certainly diminished. Therefore if one is engaged in his occupational duty by force, he benefits because he can vanquish all his sinful activities in that way.

5.10.24

तन्मे भवान्नरदेवाभिमान-मदेन तुच्छीकृतसत्तमस्य । कृषीष्ट मैत्रीद‍ृशमार्तबन्धोयथा तरे सदवध्यानमंह: ॥ २४ ॥

tan me bhavan nara-devabhimana- madena tucchikrta-sattamasya krsista maitri-drsam arta-bandho yatha tare sad-avadhyanam amhah

Whatever you have spoken appears to me to be contradictory. O best friend of the distressed, I have committed a great offense by insulting you. I was puffed up with false prestige due to possessing the body of a king. For this I have certainly become an offender. Therefore I pray that you kindly glance at me with your causeless mercy. If you do so, I can be relieved from sinful activities brought about by insulting you.

5.10.25

न विक्रिया विश्वसुहृत्सखस्यसाम्येन वीताभिमतेस्तवापि । महद्विमानात् स्वकृताद्धि माद‍ृङ्नङ्‌क्ष्यत्यदूरादपि शूलपाणि: ॥ २५ ॥

na vikriya visva-suhrt-sakhasya samyena vitabhimates tavapi mahad-vimanat sva-krtad dhi madrn nanksyaty adurad api sulapanih

O my dear lord, you are the friend of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the friend of all living entities. You are therefore equal to everyone, and you are free from the bodily conception. Although I have committed an offense by insulting you, I know that there is no loss or gain for you due to my insult. You are fixed in your determination, but I have committed an offense. Because of this, even though I may be as strong as Lord Siva, I shall be vanquished without delay due to my offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava.