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Srimad Bhãgavatam - Fifth Canto - Jadabharata Charithra (Part 5)

King Rahugana asked JadaBharata -

“Oh Lord! Who are you amongst the many Jnãnis who wander in the world incognito? Wherefore are you here? Oh Lord! I neither fear the Vajrãyudha (thunderbolt) of Indra, nor Shoolãyudha (Trident) of Shiva nor even the rod of punishment of Yama nor the various weapons of the Sun God and Moon God; but I am terribly afraid of showing disrespect to Brahma Jnãnis like you. I have lost the eyes of knowledge and have indeed become blind by being immersed in the sensuous pleasures of this world! Thus, I am totally unaware of the ways of Jnãnis. Please do pardon my sin. Oh Lord! I was approaching Lord Kapila seeking spiritual enlightenment. I believe Lord Kapila, who is none other than the Lord Himself, has come here in your form.

Lord! Having heard your words, many doubts arise in my mind. You told that you did not feel the burden while carrying the palanquin. How could that be true? I have felt the weariness when I fight a war. I do suffer from pain caused by the wounds inflicted during the war. But how is it possible that this is related only to the body and not to the soul and thus soul is unaffected? We keep rice in the pot, pour water into it and place it on fire. Though the rice has no direct contact with the fire, it does boil. Similarly, will not the sorrow and pain suffered by the body affect the mind and hence the soul? Also, though it is useless to punish a dunce, will I not be doing my duty by punishing the person? Lord! You are compassionate towards all living beings. I, a fool that I am, entertain pride because of being a King. Please be kind enough to take me across this ocean of Samsara.”

It is not easy for the worldly people to accept the fact that the world is indeed a mere illusion. As far as they are concerned, the world visibly exists and they vividly experience joy and sorrow. Thus, they are not ready to accept this tangible world to be a fallacy. We are able to perceive, rather experience, many trials and tribulations in this world. But, with the intent of enjoying the trifle pleasures of the world, even amidst the troubles we are compelled to face, we choose not to believe that the world is an illusion. A drunkard kills himself because he is unable to overcome his passion for drinks. The same happens in the case of a person who is addicted to smoking. Similarly, longing for the trivial pleasures of the world, we too have not attained the Bliss of Self-realization (Ãtmanandam). Since we firmly believe the visible world to be true, we are unable to either accept or understand the words of Mahans that ‘the world is a mere illusion’. Hence we are not dispassionate. Just as a characterless person does not receive respect, so also a person will not attain Self-Realization if he is devoid of dispassion.

Since the King Rahugana believed the world to be true, he was not able to understand the philosophy of the Self (Atmatatvam) expounded by JadaBharata in the first instance. But since he was in a Satsang (company of the Holy people), he realized that JadaBharata was a jnãni. Thus he respectfully approached JadaBharata, declared his inability to comprehend the philosophy expounded by him and asked his doubts.

Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagavat Gita:

Tat vittipranipãdena pariprashnena sevaya |
Upadeshyantitey jnãnam jnãninah tatvadarshinah | |

Meaning:
“If you want to attain liberation, approach a SatGuru, serve him, prostrate unto him and humbly ask him. Being a realized soul, that Mahan will instruct you on the path to be followed for attaining Jnãna.”

King Rahugana too, approached his Guru JadaBharata and humbly requested him to clear his doubts. Thus, JadaBharata explained the philosophy to the King. Let us see this in detail in our next issue.

To be continued……….

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