Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14

Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एतावदनुवादपरिभाषया प्रत्युदीर्य मुनिवर उपशमशील उपरतानात्म्यनिमित्त उपभोगेन कर्मारब्धं व्यपनयन् राजयानमपि तथोवाह ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca etāvad anuvāda-paribhāṣayā pratyudīrya muni-vara upaśama-śīla uparatānātmya-nimitta upabhogena karmārabdhaṁ vyapanayan rāja-yānam api tathovāha.

Translation

శ్రీశుకదేవ గోస్వామి చెప్పెను—ఓ మహారాజ పరీక్షితా, రాజు రహూగణుడు కఠిన వాక్యాలతో మహాభక్తుడైన జడభరతుని దూషించినప్పటికీ, ఆ శాంతస్వభావి మునివరుడు అన్నిటినీ సహించి యథోచితంగా ప్రత్యుత్తరం ఇచ్చెను. అజ్ఞానం దేహాత్మబుద్ధి వల్ల కలుగుతుంది; కాని జడభరతుడు ఆ మిథ్యాభావానికి లోనుకాలేదు. సహజ వినయంతో తాను మహాభక్తుడనని ఎప్పుడూ భావించలేదు; పూర్వకర్మ ఫలాన్ని అనుభవించడానికీ అంగీకరించాడు. సాధారణ మనిషిలా, పాలకీ మోసి పాత పాపఫలాలను క్షయింపజేస్తున్నానని భావించి, మునుపటిలానే రాజయానాన్ని మోయడం ప్రారంభించాడు.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘श्रीमान् शुकः’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• etāvat: this much; to this extent
• etāvat: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial accusative ‘to this extent’

• anuvāda-paribhāṣayā: by (way of) repetition and indirect speech
• anuvāda-paribhāṣayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuvāda (प्रातिपदिक) + paribhāṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; द्वन्द्वः—‘anuvādaś ca paribhāṣā ca’ (as a manner of speech)

• pratyudīrya: having replied
• pratyudīrya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ud-īr (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having replied/uttered in return’

• muni-varaḥ: the best of sages
• muni-varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘munīnām varaḥ’

• upaśama-śīlaḥ: of tranquil nature
• upaśama-śīlaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upaśama (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘upaśamaḥ śīlam yasya’ (quality)

• uparata-anātmya-nimittaḥ: withdrawn from the causes of false ego
• uparata-anātmya-nimittaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uparata (प्रातिपदिक) + anātmya (प्रातिपदिक) + nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘anātmya-nimittāt uparataḥ’ = ‘ceased from causes of non-self (false identification)’

• upabhogena: by experiencing/enjoying (it)
• upabhogena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upabhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• karma-ārabdham: (that which was) initiated by past action
• karma-ārabdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + ārabdha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘karmaṇā ārabdham’ = ‘begun by karma’

• vyapanayan: removing; dispelling
• vyapanayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-ni (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘removing/dispelling’

• rāja-yānam: the king’s palanquin/vehicle
• rāja-yānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘rājñaḥ yānam’

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• tathā: thus; in that manner
• tathā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• uvāha: carried; bore
• uvāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

Purport

An exalted devotee of the Lord never thinks that he is a paramahaṁsa or a liberated person. He always remains a humble servant of the Lord. In all reverse conditions, he agrees to suffer the results of his past life. He never accuses the Lord of putting him into a distressed condition. These are the signs of an exalted devotee. Tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣyamāṇaḥ. When suffering reversed conditions, the devotee always considers that the reverse conditions are the Lord’s concessions. He is never angry with his master; he is always satisfied with the position his master offers. In any case, he continues performing his duty in devotional service. Such a person is guaranteed promotion back home, back to Godhead. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.8) :

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva
• Jaḍa Bharata

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about prārabdha karma (karma already begun)?

This verse indicates that a liberated, peaceful sage allows already-begun karma to exhaust by undergoing its destined results without bodily identification, thereby clearing its effects.

Why did Jaḍa Bharata continue to carry the royal palanquin even after being questioned?

Because he was tranquil and detached from ego and bodily identity; he simply performed what came by destiny, letting previously-begun karma be worked out without agitation.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when facing unavoidable difficulties?

Do your duty without ego, accept unavoidable outcomes as temporary results of past actions, and keep inner steadiness through remembrance of the Lord and detachment from bodily identity.