Shloka 6
The Forest of Material Existence: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
क्वचिद्वितोया: सरितोऽभियाति परस्परं चालषते निरन्ध: । आसाद्य दावं क्वचिदग्नितप्तो निर्विद्यते क्व च यक्षैर्हृतासु: ॥ ६ ॥
kvacid vitoyāḥ sarito ’bhiyāti parasparaṁ cālaṣate nirandhaḥ āsādya dāvaṁ kvacid agni-tapto nirvidyate kva ca yakṣair hṛtāsuḥ
ചിലപ്പോൾ അവൻ അല്പജലമുള്ള നദിയിൽ ചാടുന്നു; ചിലപ്പോൾ ധാന്യക്കുറവാൽ നിരാശനായി ദാനമില്ലാത്തവരോടും ഭിക്ഷ ചോദിക്കുന്നു. ചിലപ്പോൾ ഗൃഹസ്ഥജീവിതം എന്ന കാട്ടുതീ പോലെയുള്ള ദഹനം അവനെ ചുട്ടുപൊള്ളിക്കുന്നു. ചിലപ്പോൾ കനത്ത നികുതിയുടെ പേരിൽ രാജാക്കന്മാർ പ്രാണപ്രിയമായ ധനം കവർന്നാൽ അവൻ നിരാശപ്പെടുന്നു.
When one is hot due to the scorching sun, one sometimes jumps into a river to gain relief. However, if the river is almost dried up and the water is too shallow, one may break his bones by jumping in. The conditioned soul is always experiencing miserable conditions. Sometimes his efforts to get help from friends are exactly like jumping into a dry river. By such actions, he does not derive any benefit. He only breaks his bones. Sometimes, suffering from a shortage of food, one may go to a person who is neither able to give charity nor willing to do so. Sometimes one is stationed in household life, which is compared to a forest fire ( saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka ). When a man is heavily taxed by the government, he becomes very sad. Heavy taxation obliges one to hide his income, but despite this endeavor the government agents are often so vigilant and strong that they take all the money anyway, and the conditioned soul becomes very aggrieved.
FAQs
This verse portrays samsara as a perilous journey—dry rivers (frustrated hopes), forest fires (sudden calamities), and life being stolen by hostile forces—urging detachment and spiritual shelter.
Jada Bharata used vivid images to awaken Rahugana from bodily pride and worldly confidence, showing that material existence is inherently unsafe and cannot provide lasting protection.
Recognize that plans and comforts can fail abruptly; therefore cultivate steady bhakti, simplify desires, and seek inner refuge through hearing, chanting, and remembering the Lord rather than relying solely on external security.