Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
उन्मत्तमत्तजडवत्स्वसंस्थां गतस्य मे वीर चिकित्सितेन । अर्थ: कियान् भवता शिक्षितेन स्तब्धप्रमत्तस्य च पिष्टपेष: ॥ १३ ॥
unmatta-matta-jaḍavat sva-saṁsthāṁ gatasya me vīra cikitsitena arthaḥ kiyān bhavatā śikṣitena stabdha-pramattasya ca piṣṭapeṣaḥ
Ó rei valente, disseste: “Seu tolo, obtuso, louco! Vou castigar-te e então recobrarás o juízo.” Sobre isso, ouve: embora eu viva externamente como um surdo-mudo e como um insensato, na verdade estou estabelecido na realização do Eu. Que ganharás ao punir-me? Se teu cálculo é correto e eu sou realmente louco, teu castigo será como moer o que já foi moído—sem efeito. O louco não se cura pela punição.
Everyone in this material world is working like a madman under certain impressions falsely acquired in the material condition. For example, a thief who knows that stealing is not good and who knows that it is followed with punishment by a king or by God, who has seen that thieves are arrested and punished by the police, nonetheless steals again and again. He is obsessed with the idea that by stealing he will be happy. This is a sign of madness. Despite repeated punishment, the thief cannot give up his stealing habit; therefore the punishment is useless.
FAQs
It means instruction becomes fruitless when the listener is stubborn and careless—like re-grinding flour that is already ground, producing no new result.
Rahūgaṇa had approached with pride and had insulted him; Jaḍa Bharata replies that external “correction” is pointless unless one becomes humble and receptive to truth.
Real learning requires humility: if we cling to ego and fixed opinions, even good advice becomes wasted effort—so cultivate receptivity before seeking guidance.