Text 2]
Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa Meets Jaḍa Bharata
335
going to Kapilāśrama. When the King's chief palanquin carriers reached the banks of the River Ikṣumati, they needed another carrier. Therefore they began searching for someone, and by chance they came upon Jaḍa Bharata. They considered the fact that Jaḍa Bharata was very young and strong and had firm limbs. Like cows and asses, he was quite fit to carry loads. Thinking in this way, although the great soul Jaḍa Bharata was unfit for such work, they nonetheless unhesitatingly forced him to carry the palanquin.
TEXT 2
यदा हि द्विजवरस्येषुपात्रावलोकानुगतेन समाहिता पुरुषगतिस्तदा विषमगतां स्वशिबिकां रह्नगण उपधार्य पुरुषानधिवहत आह हे वोढारः सान्वतिक्रमत किमिति विषममुह्यते यानमिति ॥ २ ॥
yadā hi dvija-varasyeṣu-mātrāvalokānugater na samāhitā puruṣa-gatis tadā viṣama-gatām sva-śibikām rahūgaṇa upadhārya puruṣān adhivahata āha he voḍhāraḥ sādhv atikramata kim iti viṣamam uhyate yānam iti.
yadā—when; hi—certainly; dvija-varasya—of Jaḍa Bharata; iṣu-mātra—the measurement of an arrow (three feet) ahead; avaloka-anugateḥ—from moving only after glancing; na samāhitā—not united; puruṣa-gatiḥ—the movement of the carriers; tadā—at that time; viṣama-gatām—becoming uneven; sva-śibikām—his own palanquin; rahūgaṇaḥ—King Rahūgaṇa; upadhārya—understanding; puruṣān—unto the men; adhivahataḥ—who were carrying the palanquin; āha—said; he—oh; voḍhāraḥ—carriers of the palanquin; sādhu atikramata—please walk evenly so that there will not be bouncing; kim iti—for what reason; viṣamam—uneven; uhyate—is being carried; yānam—the palanquin; iti—thus.
TRANSLATION
The palanquin, however, was very erratically carried by Jaḍa Bharata due to his sense of nonviolence. As he stepped forward, he checked before him every three feet to see whether he was about