Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 25
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
न विक्रिया विश्वसुहृत्सखस्यसाम्येन वीताभिमतेस्तवापि । महद्विमानात् स्वकृताद्धि मादृङ्नङ्क्ष्यत्यदूरादपि शूलपाणि: ॥ २५ ॥
na vikriyā viśva-suhṛt-sakhasya sāmyena vītābhimates tavāpi mahad-vimānāt sva-kṛtād dhi mādṛṅ naṅkṣyaty adūrād api śūlapāṇiḥ
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 Śiva, I shall be vanquished without delay due to my offense at the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava.
Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa was very intelligent and conscious of the inauspicious effects arising from insulting a Vaiṣṇava. He was therefore very anxious to be excused by Jaḍa Bharata. Following in the footsteps of Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa, everyone should be very cautious not to commit an offense at the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava. Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura in the Caitanya-bhāgavata ( Madhya 13) says:
FAQs
This verse warns that even a powerful person can quickly face ruin due to the serious karma of disrespecting a great devotee or saintly person.
After realizing Jaḍa Bharata’s spiritual greatness, Rahūgaṇa repents for his harsh behavior and acknowledges that insulting a mahātmā brings swift consequences, invoking Śūlapāṇi (Lord Śiva) as a reminder of inevitable retribution.
Practice humility and restraint in speech—especially toward spiritually sincere people—because disrespect and arrogance create avoidable harm and karmic backlash, while honoring goodness protects one’s character and progress.