Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 7
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
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 punaḥ sva-śibikāyāṁ viṣama-gatāyāṁ prakupita uvāca rahūgaṇaḥ kim idam are tvaṁ jīvan-mṛto māṁ kadarthī-kṛtya bhartṛ-śāsanam aticarasi pramattasya ca te karomi cikitsāṁ daṇḍa-pāṇir iva janatāyā yathā prakṛtiṁ svāṁ bhajiṣyasa iti.
Seeing that his palanquin was still jolting, King Rahūgaṇa flared with anger and said, “You wretch, what are you doing? Though alive, are you as good as dead? Do you not know I am your master? You disregard my command; therefore I shall punish you, as Yamarāja punishes the sinful, and set you right so you come to your senses and do your duty.”
FAQs
This verse shows Rahūgaṇa’s pride: he mistakes a saint for a negligent servant and threatens punishment, illustrating how ego can distort judgment and lead to misuse of royal authority.
Because the palanquin moved unevenly, Rahūgaṇa assumed the carrier was careless and disobedient; unaware of Jaḍa Bharata’s saintliness, he reacted with anger and threatened discipline.
Before blaming or punishing others, verify the facts and check one’s ego; leadership requires restraint, humility, and respect—especially toward those who may be wiser than they appear.