CHAPTER TEN
The Discussion Between
Jada Bharata and Maharaja Rahiigana
In this chapter Bharata Maharaja, now Jada Bharata, was successfully ac-
cepted by King Rahigana, ruler of the states known as Sindhu and
Sauvira. The King forced Jada Bharata to carry his palanquin and
chastised him because he did not carry it properly. A carrier of King
Rahigana’s palanquin was needed, and to fulfill this need the chief car-
riers found Jada Bharata as the most likely person to do the work. He was
therefore forced to carry the palanquin. Jada Bharata, however, did not
protest this proud order, but humbly accepted the job and carried the
palanquin. While carrying it, however, he was very careful to see that he
did not step on an ant, and whenever he saw one, he would stop until the
ant had passed. Because of this, he could not keep pace with the other
carriers. The King within the palanquin became very disturbed and
chastised Jada Bharata with filthy language, but Jada Bharata, being
completely freed from the bodily conception, did not protest; he pro-
ceeded carrying the palanquin. When he continued as before, the King
threatened him with punishment, and being threatened by the King,
Jada Bharata began to talk. He protested against the filthy language used
by the King when the King chastised him, and the King, hearing the in-
structions of Jada Bharata, was awakened to his real knowledge. When
he came to his consciousness, he understood that he had offended a great,
learned and saintly person. At that time he very humbly and respectfully
prayed to Jada Bharata. He now wanted to understand the deep meaning
of the philosophical words used by Jada Bharata, and with great sin-
cerity, he begged his pardon. He admitted that if one offends the lotus
feet of a pure devotee, he is certainly punished by the trident of Lord
Siva.
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