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
« Ô mon seigneur, tu es l’ami de Bhagavān, l’Ami de tous les êtres ; ainsi tu es égal envers tous et libre de la conception corporelle. Mon insulte ne t’apporte ni gain ni perte ; tu demeures ferme dans ta résolution. Mais à cause de ma grande offense, quand bien même je serais puissant comme Śiva, le porteur du trident, je serai promptement abattu pour avoir offensé les pieds d’un 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.