Story of Bharata

A son of Ṛṣabha.

Genealogy and birth.

Descending in order from Viṣṇu-Brahmā-Svāyambhuvamanu-Priyavrata-Agnīdhra-Nābhi-Ṛṣabha-Bharata.

Emperor Priyavrata partitioned his empire to his eight children. Agnīdhra got Jambudvīpa. Agnīdhra had nine sons: Nābhi, Kimpuruṣa, Harivarṣa, Ilāvṛta, Ramya, Hiraṇvan, Kuru Bhadrāśva and Ketumāla. On the death of the father Jambudvīpa was divided into nine states and Nābhi got the land called Hima. Nābhi married Merudevī and got a son, Ṛṣabha. Ṛṣabha had a hundred sons and Bharata was the eldest. (Chapter 1, Aṃśam 2, Viṣṇu Purāṇa).

Marriage, administration and entry into Āśrama life.

Bharata took over the administration of the kingdom at the death of his father, Ṛṣabha. He married Pañcajanī daughter of Viśvarūpa. They had five sons, Sumati, Rāṣtrabhṛt, Sudarśana, Āvaraṇa and Dhūmraketu. The Pañcama Skandha of Bhāgavata contains a statement to the effect that India got the name Bhārata from this king. (It is worthwhile remembering at this juncture a previous statement that the name Bhārata was obtained from Bharata, son of Duṣyanta). Bharata like his forefather was very erudite and affectionate and always respected his duties. He always meditated on Brahmā and in his heart there shone the Paramapuruṣa in the figure of Vāsudeva adorned with Srīvatsa, Kaustubha, Vanamālā, Śaṃkha, Cakra, Gadā and Padma. He ruled the country for a crore of years and after that dividing the country among his sons went to the āśrama of Pulaha Maharṣi to spend the rest of his life there. On the rocks lying in the river flowing in front of the Āśrama were the marks of Cakra on one side and Nābhi on the other and the river therefore came to be known as Cakranābhi. Bathing in this river and doing pūjā Bharata lived there oblivious of the world outside. (Pañcama Skandha, Bhāgavata).

Bharata and the deer.

Bharata led a purely ascetic life performing everyday the rites laid down by scriptures and muttering the mystic formula of Brahmākṣara. One day a thirsty pregnant deer went to drink water in a nearby pond. As it was drinking it heard the loud roar of a lion nearby. Frightened the poor animal without even waiting to quench its thirst ran into the forest and on its way delivered a child and the deer-babe fell into the river. The deer exhausted and tormented by fear ran into a cave and fell down dead. Bharata happened to see the new-born deer floating on the river and took it to his āśrama. From then onwards Bharata’s mind was diverted from the spiritual to the mundane effort of taking care of the young deer. The deer followed him wherever he went and if it did not turn up in time in the evening after grazing Bharata went about in search of it weeping. Years went by and Bharata became old and died with the name of the deer on his lips. (Pañcama Skandha, Bhāgavata).

Rebirths of Bharata.

Because he died with the thought of the deer in his mind he was reborn as a deer. The deer was aware of his previous birth and regretted that he spent the life of a man for the sake of a deer. The deer, therefore, left the house of his mother in the mountain of Kālañjara and went to the āśrama of Pulaha. The pious animal daily bathed in the river and died there on the bank of that river. So in its next life the deer was born as the son of a brahmin in the line of Aṅgiras. That brahmin had two wives and got nine sons of his first wife and one of the second. The son born to the second wife was none other than Bharata. In due course the brahmin died and his second wife jumped into the funeral pyre and ended her life. Thrown an orphan Bharata became a puppet in the hands of his brothers. Bharata was asked to look after the cattle and fields of his brothers for his living. With great forbearance Bharata did all he was told.

One day Bharata was keeping watch over the fields of his brothers. It was midnight. In the neighbourhood the Caṇḍālas were making merry over the birth of a child to one of the women. Some of them were bringing a man bound by ropes to be given as 'Narabali' to the goddess Kālī. (Narabali is the offering of a human being with his head cut off to propitiate a deity). On the way the man escaped and the disappointed Caṇḍālas were roaming about in search of a substitute when they came across Bharata keeping watch over the fields. Immediately he was bound by ropes and taken before the idol of Kālī. The effulgence of the brahmin astounded Kālī and getting angry for bringing such a pious brahmin for sacrifice she devoured the Caṇḍālas and allowed the brahmin to go free.

Escaping from there Bharata reached a village walking all the way. That village was being ruled over by a king called Rahūgaṇa and that king was going to see Bhagavān Kapila Maharṣi along the banks of the river Ikṣumatī in a palanquin. The palanquin had not enough bearers and so the brahmin was asked to join the team of bearers. As they were moving the palanquin shook because of the wrong steps kept by Bharata. The king reprimanded Bharata and Bharata then gave the king fitting replies based on the ethics of Vedānta. The erudition of Bharata greatly impressed the king and he stepped down from the palanquin and bowed to Bharata.

Bharata went from there to the forests singing devotional songs in praise of Viṣṇu and at last attained salvation. (Pañcama Skandha, Bhāgavata).