Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 15
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
स चापि पाण्डवेय सिन्धुसौवीरपतिस्तत्त्वजिज्ञासायां सम्यक्श्रद्धयाधिकृताधिकारस्तद्धृदयग्रन्थिमोचनं द्विजवच आश्रुत्य बहुयोगग्रन्थसम्मतं त्वरयावरुह्य शिरसा पादमूलमुपसृत: क्षमापयन् विगतनृपदेवस्मय उवाच ॥ १५ ॥
sa cāpi pāṇḍaveya sindhu-sauvīra-patis tattva-jijñāsāyāṁ samyak-śraddhayādhikṛtādhikāras tad dhṛdaya-granthi-mocanaṁ dvija-vaca āśrutya bahu-yoga-grantha-sammataṁ tvarayāvaruhya śirasā pāda-mūlam upasṛtaḥ kṣamāpayan vigata-nṛpa-deva-smaya uvāca.
Ipinagpatuloy ni Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O pinakamahusay sa angkan ni Pāṇḍu, si Haring Rahūgaṇa, pinuno ng Sindhu at Sauvīra, ay may matibay na pananampalataya sa pagsisiyasat sa Ganap na Katotohanan; kaya siya’y karapat-dapat. Nang marinig niya ang mga salita ni Jaḍa Bharata—pahayag ng isang brāhmaṇa na sinasang-ayunan ng maraming aklat ng yoga at nagpapaluwag sa buhol ng puso—nawasak ang pagmamataas niyang “ako’y hari.” Agad siyang bumaba sa palankin at nagpatirapa, inilapat ang ulo sa mga paang-loto ni Jaḍa Bharata upang humingi ng tawad sa mapanlait na pananalita laban sa dakilang brāhmaṇa. Pagkatapos ay nanalangin siya nang ganito.
In Bhagavad-gītā (4.2) Lord Kṛṣṇa says:
FAQs
This verse says that the enlightened brāhmaṇa’s words can loosen and remove the heart’s knot—deep inner bondage like ego and attachment—when heard with genuine faith and truth-seeking.
After hearing Jaḍa Bharata’s authoritative, spiritually piercing instruction, Rahūgaṇa realized his offense and arrogance as a ruler; he got down from the palanquin, approached the sage’s feet, and apologized with humility.
When corrected by wise guidance, drop defensiveness, acknowledge mistakes quickly, and approach truth with sincere faith—because humility makes spiritual learning and transformation possible.