Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata: The Shaking Palanquin and the Teaching Beyond Body-Identity
एवं बह्वबद्धमपि भाषमाणं नरदेवाभिमानं रजसा तमसानुविद्धेन मदेन तिरस्कृताशेषभगवत्प्रियनिकेतं पण्डितमानिनं स भगवान् ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मभूतसर्वभूतसुहृदात्मा योगेश्वरचर्यायां नातिव्युत्पन्नमतिं स्मयमान इव विगतस्मय इदमाह ॥ ८ ॥
evaṁ bahv abaddham api bhāṣamāṇaṁ nara-devābhimānaṁ rajasā tamasānuviddhena madena tiraskṛtāśeṣa-bhagavat-priya-niketaṁ paṇḍita-māninaṁ sa bhagavān brāhmaṇo brahma-bhūta-sarva-bhūta-suhṛd-ātmā yogeśvara-caryāyāṁ nāti-vyutpanna-matiṁ smayamāna iva vigata-smaya idam āha.
罗睺伽那王自以为君王，陷于身见，又被激情与愚昧之性所染，因狂妄而以无端且自相矛盾之言责骂阇陀婆罗多。阇陀婆罗多却是至高主的至爱奉献者，是主所喜居之处；主常住其心。他处于梵我之境，慈友一切众生，毫无身躯认同。国王并不知晓高阶奉献者的地位与特征。阇陀婆罗多似含微笑而实无傲慢，遂说道如下。
The distinction between a person in the bodily conception and a person beyond the bodily conception is presented in this verse. In the bodily conception, King Rahūgaṇa considered himself a king and chastised Jaḍa Bharata in so many unwanted ways. Being self-realized, Jaḍa Bharata, who was fully situated on the transcendental platform, did not at all become angry; instead, he smiled and began to deliver his teachings to King Rahūgaṇa. A highly advanced Vaiṣṇava devotee is a friend to all living entities, and consequently he is a friend to his enemies also. In fact, he does not consider anyone to be his enemy. Suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. Sometimes a Vaiṣṇava becomes superficially angry at a nondevotee, but this is good for the nondevotee. We have several examples of this in Vedic literature. Once Nārada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The devotee is situated on the absolute platform, and when he is angry or pleased, there is no difference, for in either case he bestows his benediction.
FAQs
This verse shows that royal pride and the vanity of being “learned” (paṇḍita-māninaḥ) arise from rajas and tamas, causing one to disrespect great devotees; such ego blocks true spiritual understanding.
He perceived the king’s immaturity regarding the behavior of realized yogīs, and he responded with calm compassion—appearing to smile, yet remaining free from mockery or pride.
When criticized unfairly, respond like a saint—without ego—recognizing that others may be influenced by passion and ignorance, and choose patient, truthful speech over retaliation.