FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.10.4

न वयं नरदेव प्रमत्ता भवन्नियमानुपथा: साध्वेव वहाम: अयमधुनैव नियुक्तोऽपि न द्रुतं व्रजति नानेन सह वोढुमु ह वयं पारयाम इति ॥ ४ ॥
na vayaṁ nara-deva pramattā bhavan-niyamānupathāḥ sādhv eva vahāmaḥ. ayam adhunaiva niyukto ’pi na drutaṁ vrajati nānena saha voḍhum u ha vayaṁ pārayāma iti.
[na vayam nara-deva pramattaa bhavan-niyamaanupathaah saadhv eva vahaamah. ayam adhunaiva niyukto ’pi na drutam vrajati naanena saha vodhum u ha vayam paarayaama iti.]
Word-for-word
na — not vayam — we nara-deva — O lord among human beings (the king is supposed to be the representative of deva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead) pramattāḥ — neglectful in our duties bhavat-niyama-anupathāḥ — who are always obedient to your order sādhu — properly eva — certainly vahāmaḥ — we are carrying ayam — this man adhunā — just recently eva — indeed niyuktaḥ — being engaged to work with us api — although na — not drutam — very quickly vrajati — works na — not anena — him saha — with voḍhum — to carry u ha — oh vayam — we pārayāmaḥ — are able iti — thus.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na vayaṁ nara-deva pramattā bhavan-niyamānupathāḥ sādhv eva vahāmaḥ. ayam adhunaiva niyukto ’pi na drutaṁ vrajati nānena saha voḍhum u ha vayaṁ pārayāma iti.
na
not
vayam
we
nara-deva
O lord among human beings (the king is supposed to be the representative of deva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
pramattāḥ
neglectful in our duties
bhavat-niyama-anupathāḥ
who are always obedient to your order
sādhu
properly
eva
certainly
vahāmaḥ
we are carrying
ayam
this man
adhunā
just recently
eva
indeed
niyuktaḥ
being engaged to work with us
api
although
na
not
drutam
very quickly
vrajati
works
na
not
anena
him
saha
with
voḍhum
to carry
u ha
oh
vayam
we
pārayāmaḥ
are able
iti
thus.
O lord, please note that we are not at all negligent in discharging our duties. We have been faithfully carrying this palanquin according to your desire, but this man who has been recently engaged to work with us cannot walk very swiftly. Therefore we are not able to carry the palanquin with him.
Purport

The other palanquin carriers were śūdras, whereas Jaḍa Bharata was not only a high-caste brāhmaṇa but also a great devotee. Śūdras do not sympathize with other living beings, but a Vaiṣṇava cannot act like a śūdra. Whenever a śūdra and a brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇava are combined, there will certainly be imbalance in the execution of duties. The śūdras were walking with the palanquin without at all caring for the ants on the ground, but Jaḍa Bharata could not act like a śūdra, and therefore difficulty arose.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! We have not been inattentive and, following your orders, have been carrying properly. But the man who has now been engaged does not walk quickly. We are not able to carry the palanquin with him. We are not inattentive, but follow your orders.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Putting a Vaiṣṇava and a śūdra-minded person on the same task without acknowledging the difference creates predictable friction. Different inner orientations cannot be forced to march at the same pace; honest leaders make space for the difference.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you been forcing very different inner orientations to march in lockstep, and what is the cost?
  • How could acknowledging real differences of consciousness improve a team or family situation you are in?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 10