Shloka 16

Rahūgaṇa Instructed by Jaḍa Bharata — Dehātma-buddhi, Nondual Truth, and the Mercy of Devotees

Devanagari script

तस्मान्नरोऽसङ्गसुसङ्गजात- ज्ञानासिनेहैव विवृक्णमोह: । हरिं तदीहाकथनश्रुताभ्यां लब्धस्मृतिर्यात्यतिपारमध्वन: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tasmān naro ’saṅga-susaṅga-jāta- jñānāsinehaiva vivṛkṇa-mohaḥ hariṁ tad-īhā-kathana-śrutābhyāṁ labdha-smṛtir yāty atipāram adhvanaḥ

Translation

Darum soll der Mensch, obwohl ungebunden, die heilige Gemeinschaft erhabener Bhaktas suchen; mit dem Schwert der Erkenntnis, das aus solchem Satsaṅga entsteht, zerschneidet er hier und jetzt die Verblendung. In der Gemeinschaft der Devotees, durch Hören und Singen der Erzählungen Haris (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam), erwacht die geistige Erinnerung; fest im Kultivieren des Kṛṣṇa-Bewusstseins überschreitet er den höchsten Pfad und kehrt noch in diesem Leben heim, zur Wohnstatt Gottes.

Synonyms

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially; ‘therefore/from that’; avyayībhāva-like usage

• naraḥ: a man, a person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• asaṅga-susaṅga-jāta-jñāna-asinā: with the sword of knowledge born of good association with the detached
• asaṅga-susaṅga-jāta-jñāna-asinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asaṅga + su-saṅga + jāta + jñāna + asi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana (sg.); multi-member tatpuruṣa: asaṅgaḥ (detachment) + susaṅgaḥ (good association) → susaṅga-jāta (born from good association) + jñāna (knowledge) + asi (sword) → ‘sword of knowledge born of good association with the detached’; instrument of cutting

• iha: here (in this world)
• iha: Adhikaraṇa/Avyaya (अधिकरण/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-kāla-avyaya (adverb)

• eva: indeed, certainly
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niścaya/avadhāraṇa (emphatic particle)

• vivṛkṇa-mohaḥ: whose delusion is cut off
• vivṛkṇa-mohaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + vṛk (धातु) + moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); past passive participle (kta) vivṛkṇa ‘cut asunder’ from √vṛk ‘to cut’ with vi-; tatpuruṣa: vivṛkṇaḥ mohaḥ yasya saḥ (actually bahuvrīhi sense) used adjectivally for naraḥ

• harim: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• tad-īhā-kathana-śrutābhyām: by hearing and speaking about His activities
• tad-īhā-kathana-śrutābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + īhā + kathana + śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Dvivacana (du.); dvandva: kathanaṁ ca śrutiś ca → kathana-śrutī; with qualifiers: tad-īhā (his endeavor/acts) + (tad-īhā)-kathana and (tad-īhā)-śruti; instrumental dual: -ābhyām

• labdha-smṛtiḥ: having regained remembrance
• labdha-smṛtiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (कृदन्त) + smṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); kta-participle labdha ‘obtained’ + smṛti; tatpuruṣa: labdhā smṛtir yasya saḥ (bahuvrīhi sense) qualifying naraḥ

• yāti: goes, attains
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ati-pāram: to the farthest shore (beyond)
• ati-pāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati + pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); avyayībhāva: ati (beyond) + pāra (far shore) → ‘beyond the far shore’ as goal

• adhvanaḥ: of the path
• adhvanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana (sg.)

Purport

To become liberated from material bondage, one must give up the association of worldly people and accept the association of devotees; positive and negative processes are mentioned in this regard. Through the association of devotees, one develops Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is dormant within. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is giving this chance to everyone. We are giving shelter to everyone who is serious about progressing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We arrange for their lodging and board so that they can peacefully cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness and return home, back to Godhead, even in this life.

Characters & Entities

• Jada Bharata
• King Rahugana
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about overcoming moha (illusion)?

This verse says illusion is cut by the sword of knowledge that arises from detachment and, especially, saintly association, and that Hari-kathā (hearing and speaking about the Lord) restores true remembrance and frees one from saṁsāra.

Why did Jada Bharata speak this teaching to King Rahugana?

Rahugana approached Bharata with pride and misunderstanding; Bharata instructed him that liberation is not achieved by status or mere effort, but by satsanga, true knowledge, and devotion expressed through hearing and speaking about Lord Hari.

Practical application of hearing and speaking Hari-katha in modern life?

Seek uplifting association, regularly hear authentic Bhagavatam teachings, speak/reflect on them with sincerity, and use that remembrance to reduce attachment and make decisions aligned with spiritual purpose.