Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 2
Rahūgaṇa Instructed by Jaḍa Bharata — Dehātma-buddhi, Nondual Truth, and the Mercy of Devotees
ज्वरामयार्तस्य यथागदं सत् निदाघदग्धस्य यथा हिमाम्भ: । कुदेहमानाहिविदष्टदृष्टे: ब्रह्मन् वचस्तेऽमृतमौषधं मे ॥ २ ॥
jvarāmayārtasya yathāgadaṁ sat nidāgha-dagdhasya yathā himāmbhaḥ kudeha-mānāhi-vidaṣṭa-dṛṣṭeḥ brahman vacas te ’mṛtam auṣadhaṁ me
O pinakamainam na brāhmaṇa, ang aking katawan ay punô ng karumihan at ang aking paningin ay nakagat ng ahas ng pagmamataas. Dahil sa materyal na pag-aakala, ako’y may sakit. Ang iyong mga tagubiling tulad-nectar ay tamang gamot sa may lagnat at parang malamig na tubig sa nasusunog sa init.
The conditioned soul has a body full of dirty things — bones, blood, urine, stool and so forth. Nonetheless, the most intelligent men in this material world think they are these combinations of blood, bone, urine and stool. If this is so, why can’t other intelligent men be made with these ingredients, which are so readily available? The entire world is going on under the bodily conception and creating a hellish condition unfit for any gentleman’s living. The instructions given to King Rahūgaṇa by Jaḍa Bharata are very valuable. They are like the medicine that can save one from a snakebite. The Vedic instructions are like nectar and cool water for one suffering from scorching heat.
FAQs
This verse says bodily pride is like a serpent that bites one’s vision, making true spiritual understanding impossible until corrected by saintly instruction.
After offending Jada Bharata due to arrogance, Rahugana realizes Bharata’s spiritual greatness and acknowledges that Bharata’s words cure his ego and ignorance.
Seek guidance from genuine spiritual teachers, accept correction without defensiveness, and consciously reduce identity-based pride to restore clarity in values and purpose.