Shloka 20

The Forest of Material Existence: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa

Devanagari script

रहूगण त्वमपि ह्यध्वनोऽस्य सन्न्यस्तदण्ड: कृतभूतमैत्र: । असज्जितात्मा हरिसेवया शितं ज्ञानासिमादाय तरातिपारम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

rahūgaṇa tvam api hy adhvano ’sya sannyasta-daṇḍaḥ kṛta-bhūta-maitraḥ asaj-jitātmā hari-sevayā śitaṁ jñānāsim ādāya tarāti-pāram

Translation

Mein lieber König Rahūgaṇa, auch du bist ein Opfer der äußeren Energie, denn du befindest dich auf dem Weg der Anziehung zu materiellem Genuss. Damit du ein gleichgesinnter Freund aller Lebewesen wirst, rate ich dir, Königtum und Strafstab aufzugeben. Lass die Anhaftung an Sinnesobjekte fahren und ergreife das Schwert der Erkenntnis, geschärft durch hingebungsvollen Dienst an Hari; so wirst du den harten Knoten der Māyā durchtrennen und den Ozean der Unwissenheit überqueren.

Synonyms

• rahūgaṇa: O Rahūgaṇa
• rahūgaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rahūgaṇa (रहूगण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्-सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle; ‘also/even’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic/causal particle

• adhvanaḥ: from the path
• adhvanaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (अध्वन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular; with asya = ‘from this path’

• asya: of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (इदम्-सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• sannyasta-daṇḍaḥ: having laid down the staff
• sannyasta-daṇḍaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sannyasta (सम्-नि-√as धातु + क्त) + daṇḍa (दण्ड-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘one whose staff is laid down’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of tvam

• kṛta-bhūta-maitraḥ: friendly to all beings
• kṛta-bhūta-maitraḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ धातु + क्त) + bhūta (भूत-प्रातिपदिक) + maitra (मैत्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (possibly ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa): ‘having made friendship toward beings’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asajjita-ātmā: one with unattached mind
• asajjita-ātmā: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sajjita (नञ् + √saj धातु + क्त) + ātman (आत्मन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: ‘whose self is unattached’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• hari-sevayā: by service to Hari
• hari-sevayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि-प्रातिपदिक) + sevā (सेवा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘service of Hari’; Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• śitam: sharp
• śitam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (शित-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifying jñānāsim

• jñāna-asim: the sword of knowledge
• jñāna-asim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (ज्ञान-प्रातिपदिक) + asi (असि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘sword of knowledge’; Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) form; ‘having taken’

• tarāti-pāram: to the far shore (beyond)
• tarāti-pāram: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarāti-pāra (तरातिपार-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-like adverbial compound: tarāti ‘across’ + pāra ‘far shore’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; goal of motion ‘to the far shore’

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā Lord Kṛṣṇa compares the material world to a tree of illusion from which one must cut oneself free:

Characters & Entities

• Rahūgaṇa
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about crossing the ocean of material life?

This verse says one crosses material existence by serving Hari, cultivating detachment and compassion, and wielding the sharp sword of true knowledge.

Why did Jaḍa Bharata speak this instruction to King Rahūgaṇa?

Rahūgaṇa approached Bharata after realizing his own pride; Bharata then taught him the path of liberation—renunciation, kindness to all beings, and devotion to Hari.

How can I apply ‘being a friend to all beings’ and detachment in modern life?

Practice non-harm and goodwill in daily dealings, reduce identity-based pride and possessiveness, and anchor your actions in devotional service and spiritual study that sharpens discernment.