Text 23] Rahigana Converses with Jada Bharata 457

ye brahmana gam avadhita-lingas
caranti tebhyah sivam astu rajridm

namah—all obeisances: mahadbhyah—unto the great personalities:
astu—let there be: namah—my obeisances: sisubhyah—unto those
great personalities who appear as boys; namah—respectful obeisances:
yuvabhyah—unto those who appear as young men: namah—respectful
obeisances: a-vatubhyah—unto those who appear as children: ye—all
those who: bréhmanah—self-realized in transcendental knowledge:
gam—the earth; avadhita-lingah—who remain hidden under different
bodily guises: caranti—they traverse; tebhyah—from them: sivam
astu—let there be all good fortune: rajridm—unto the royal dynasties or
kings (who are always very puffed up).

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the great personalities,
whether they walk on the earth’s surface as children, young boys,
avadhitas or great brahmanas. Even if they are hidden under
different guises, I offer my respects to all of them. By their mercy,
may there be good fortune in the royal dynasties that are always
offending them.

PURPORT

King Rahigana was very repentant because he had forced Jada
Bharata to carry his palanquin. He therefore began offering prayers to all
kinds of braéhmanas and self-realized persons. even though they might
be playing like children or hiding in some guises. The four Kumaras
walked everywhere in the guise of five-year-old boys, and similarly there
are many braéhmanas, knowers of Brahman. who traverse the globe
either as young men, children or avadhitas. Being puffed up due to their
position, the royal dynasties generally offend these great personalities.
Therefore King Rahigana began to offer his respectful obeisances unto
them so that the offensive royal dynasties might not glide down into a
hellish condition. If one offends a great personality. the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead does not excuse one. although the great personalities
themselves might not take offense. Maharaja Ambarisa was offended bv
Durvasé. who even approached Lord Visnu for pardon. Lord Visnu
