Shloka 7
Rahūgaṇa Instructed by Jaḍa Bharata — Dehātma-buddhi, Nondual Truth, and the Mercy of Devotees
शोच्यानिमांस्त्वमधिकष्टदीनान् विष्ट्या निगृह्णन्निरनुग्रहोऽसि । जनस्य गोप्तास्मि विकत्थमानो न शोभसे वृद्धसभासु धृष्ट: ॥ ७ ॥
śocyān imāṁs tvam adhikaṣṭa-dīnān viṣṭyā nigṛhṇan niranugraho ’si janasya goptāsmi vikatthamāno na śobhase vṛddha-sabhāsu dhṛṣṭaḥ
ഈ നിർദോഷ പല്ലക്കി വഹിക്കുന്നവർ അത്യന്തം ദീനരാണ്; അവരെ ബലമായി പിടിച്ചുകെട്ടി നീ കരുണയില്ലാത്തവനായി. ‘ഞാൻ ജനങ്ങളുടെ രക്ഷകൻ’ എന്ന് പൊങ്ങിച്ചൊല്ലിയാലും ജ്ഞാനികളുടെ സഭയിൽ നീ ശോഭിക്കുകയില്ല.
King Rahūgaṇa was proud of being king, and he felt he had the right to control the citizens as he liked, but actually he was engaging men in carrying his palanquin without payment, and therefore he was causing them trouble without reason. Nonetheless, the King was thinking that he was the protector of the citizens. Actually the king should be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For this reason he is called nara-devatā, the Lord among human beings. However, when a king thinks that because he is the head of the state he can utilize the citizens for his sense gratification, he is in error. Such an attitude is not appreciated by learned scholars. According to the Vedic principles, the king should be advised by learned sages, brāhmaṇas and scholars, who advise him according to the injunctions given in the dharma-śāstra. The duty of the king is to follow these instructions. Learned circles do not appreciate the king’s utilizing public endeavor for his own benefit. His duty is to give protection to the citizens instead. The king should not become such a rogue that he exploits the citizens for his own benefit.
FAQs
This verse criticizes a ruler who claims to protect the people yet mercilessly oppresses the afflicted, teaching that true kingship must be guided by compassion and dharma, not pride.
Rahūgaṇa had arrogantly mistreated Bharata and forced suffering onto others; Bharata exposes the king’s hypocrisy—boasting of protection while acting without mercy.
Avoid ego-based authority: lead or manage others with empathy, do not justify harshness as ‘duty,’ and seek the counsel of the wise before acting.