Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 4
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
न वयं नरदेव प्रमत्ता भवन्नियमानुपथा: साध्वेव वहाम: । अयमधुनैव नियुक्तोऽपि न द्रुतं व्रजति नानेन सह वोढुमु ह वयं पारयाम इति ॥ ४ ॥
na vayaṁ nara-deva pramattā bhavan-niyamānupathāḥ sādhv eva vahāmaḥ. ayam adhunaiva niyukto ’pi na drutaṁ vrajati nānena saha voḍhum u ha vayaṁ pārayāma iti.
人中王啊，我们并非怠慢职分；依照您的规矩与旨意，我们一直好好抬着轿子。只是这人虽刚被派来同我们一起抬，却走得不快，因此我们无法与他配合，平稳抬轿。
The other palanquin carriers were śūdras, whereas Jaḍa Bharata was not only a high-caste brāhmaṇa but also a great devotee. Śūdras do not sympathize with other living beings, but a Vaiṣṇava cannot act like a śūdra. Whenever a śūdra and a brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇava are combined, there will certainly be imbalance in the execution of duties. The śūdras were walking with the palanquin without at all caring for the ants on the ground, but Jaḍa Bharata could not act like a śūdra, and therefore difficulty arose.
FAQs
The bearers tell King Rahugana they are obeying his orders, but the newly appointed bearer (Jada Bharata) is not walking fast, so they cannot carry the palanquin smoothly.
Because Jada Bharata was moving carefully and slowly, avoiding harm to living beings, which disrupted the rhythm of carrying the king’s palanquin.
It highlights how impatience and blaming others can arise in service; steadiness, compassion, and humility are needed to understand people whose motives are deeper than outward appearances.