Shloka 10
Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena
Prelude to Pṛthu
जडान्धबधिरोन्मत्तमूकाकृतिरतन्मति: । लक्षित: पथि बालानां प्रशान्तार्चिरिवानल: ॥ १० ॥
jaḍāndha-badhironmatta- mūkākṛtir atan-matiḥ lakṣitaḥ pathi bālānāṁ praśāntārcir ivānalaḥ
Utkala appeared to the less intelligent persons on the road to be foolish, blind, dumb, deaf and mad, although actually he was not so. He remained like fire covered with ashes, without blazing flames.
In order to avoid contradiction, botheration and unfavorable situations created by materialistic persons, a great saintly person like Jaḍa Bharata or Utkala remains silent. The less intelligent consider such saintly persons to be mad, deaf or dumb. Factually, an advanced devotee avoids speaking with persons who are not in devotional life, but to those who are in devotional life he speaks in friendship, and he speaks to the innocent for their enlightenment. For all practical purposes, the whole world is full of nondevotees, and so one kind of very advanced devotee is called bhajanānandī. Those who are goṣṭhy-ānandī, however, preach to increase the number of devotees. But even such preachers also avoid opposing elements who are unfavorably disposed towards spiritual life.
FAQs
This verse explains that a spiritually detached person may deliberately appear dull, mute, or mad to avoid worldly interference, and immature observers may misunderstand him.
Śukadeva portrays the person’s outward disguise—an intentional, avadhūta-like concealment—showing how inner realization can be hidden behind an unimpressive exterior.
Do not judge spiritual depth by external show; cultivate humility and restraint, and value character and detachment over appearance or social performance.