Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
श्रीशुक उवाच एतावदनुवादपरिभाषया प्रत्युदीर्य मुनिवर उपशमशील उपरतानात्म्यनिमित्त उपभोगेन कर्मारब्धं व्यपनयन् राजयानमपि तथोवाह ॥ १४ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca etāvad anuvāda-paribhāṣayā pratyudīrya muni-vara upaśama-śīla uparatānātmya-nimitta upabhogena karmārabdhaṁ vyapanayan rāja-yānam api tathovāha.
Sinabi ni Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, nang sawayin ni Haring Rahūgaṇa si Jaḍa Bharata—isang dakilang bhakta—sa mabibigat na salita, ang mapayapang banal na iyon ay nagtiis sa lahat at sumagot nang nararapat. Ang kamangmangan ay mula sa maling pagtingin na ang katawan ang sarili, ngunit hindi naapektuhan si Jaḍa Bharata ng gayong guniguni. Dahil sa likas na kababaang-loob, hindi niya inisip ang sarili bilang dakilang deboto, at tinanggap niyang danasin ang bunga ng dating karma. Gaya ng karaniwang tao, inakala niyang sa pagbubuhat ng palankin ay nalulusaw ang mga reaksyon ng dating kasalanan, kaya muli niyang binuhat ito gaya ng dati.
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) :
FAQs
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.
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.
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.