In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very interesting juncture on the “Jada-Bharata-Upaakyaanam”, wherein King Rahuguna is trying to initiate a heated conversation with Sage Jada-Bharata for not carrying his carriage properly. Little did King Rahuguna know that he was talking with a highly spiritual soul, who was constantly in bliss, although he was roaming here and there by being a laughing stalk for everyone around! King Rahuguna mixed aggression with sarcasm and insults Sage Jada-Bharata that even though he was well-built and nourished, he wasn’t having the “strength” to carry the carriage properly. He threatened Sage Jada-Bharata to beat him with the stick as well, if he’s not going to execute his duty properly. As King Rahuguna was fuming with anger and frustration, he was awaiting a response from Sage Jada-Bharata, which initially did not happen, as expected. This made King Rahuguna even more furious and he repeated his question with more anger.
Finally as the king asked him multiple times, Sage Jada-Bharata retorted back with a sharp, yet unexpected reply! Instead of directly answering the king, Sage Jada-Bharata asked a counter question thus, “Oh King Rahuguna! You had just said that I’m fat, well-nourished, etc. Can you explain the meaning of fatness? What is the meaning of being well-nourished?” Upon hearing this from Sage Jada-Bharata, King Rahuguna didn’t understand anything for a moment! His head went into a spin! He didn’t expect such a counter question from this person, whom he imagined to be totally dumb! Now it was totally Sage Jada-Bharata’s turn to plummet the king with questions. As King Rahuguna couldn’t understand what to reply to such a blunt question, Sage Bharata continued thus, “Oh King! You had mentioned that I had not carried your carriage properly, isn’t it? First of all, who told you that I was carrying your carriage? To be very frank, I was not at all carrying the carriage! If that is the case, how do you blame me for the mishap? On what basis do you do so?”
This made King Rahuguna stand there like a pillar, without knowing what to answer! Of course, he quickly understood that these are not ordinary questions (although they sounded pretty ordinary and childish), but there were some deeper meanings attached to what this gentleman was asking! However, the ego of King Rahuguna drove over him completely. He got more furious and shouted angrily at Sage Bharata thus, “Oh fool! What are you blabbering? It is me who appointed you as the fourth person to carry my carriage. Here you are, standing with all your well-nourished body near the fourth corner of the carriage. If you had not carried it, who else did that then? Why are you trying to bluff to me like this? Do you know the repercussions of what your answers are?”
As the king angrily asked thus, Sage Jada-Bharata calmly replied again with the same answer, but with some rephrasing and a bit of sarcasm attached to it! In fact, Sage Jada-Bharata was giving King Rahuguna the taste of his own medicine here! We’ve to remember that King Rahuguna tried to sarcastically insult Sage Jada-Bharata, however, it is now time for Sage Bharata to give him back with interest! He replies to King Rahuguna thus, “Oh king! I hope you understand the language in which I’m talking with you right now! I hope you’re not dumb enough! I’m saying for the second time now – I’ve not carried your carriage! In fact, to go one step further, please understand that I’ve never carried anything in my life so far! Please understand – The carriage of yours was carried by the beautifully decorated handle that is there on all four sides. This handle was carried by my shoulder. My shoulder is being carried by the upper portion of my physical body. This upper portion of my body is being carried by my thighs and knees. My thighs and knees are carried by my legs. My legs are carried by Mother Bhoomadevi from below! So ultimately, your carriage was carried by none other than Goddess Bhoomadevi, and not me! So if you have a problem with the carrying part, please ask her, and not me!”
What an answer this is! King Rahuguna was caught clearly on the wrong foot! He did not expect such a reply ever! In fact, Sage Jada-Bharata had outsmarted King Rahuguna so easily with just one answer! This answer was enough to send King Rahuguna into a deep thought process! Now what was King Rahuguna’s response to this? Is he going to continue his aggressive streak or is he going to stop right there and introspect what Sage Bharata is telling him? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 