॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 3 December 2022 V.07- Bharata becomes the exemplary king after whom our country is named, and then renounces everything, and goes on to become an ascetic in the Himalayas.
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In our scriptures, from prehistoric times, our country is described as Bhaarata भारत, although in English we spell it as Bharata or Bharat. It is the land with her crown being the Himalayas and her feet awash in the great Indian ocean. The name Bharata भरत is found in many stories. Sri Rama's brother was Bharata. King Dushyanta's son was Bharata, and, in fact, his progeny ruled during Mahabharata. Hence Sri Krishna addresses Arjuna as Bhaarata (descendant of Bharata).
Also, in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the son and heir of Rishabha Deva is the famous King Bharata, after whom our country is supposed to have been called as Bharatavarsha (भारतवर्ष). This and the next chapters are about him.
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Bharata dutifully took over the kingdom that his father handed over to him. He married Panchajani, a princess. He had five sons.
अजनाभं नामैतद्वर्षं भारतमिति यत आरभ्य व्यपदिशन्ति ॥
स बहुविन्महीपति: पितृपितामहवदुरुवत्सलतया स्वे स्वे कर्मणि वर्तमाना: प्रजा: स्वधर्ममनुवर्तमान: पर्यपालयत् ॥
T: Formerly this land was known as Ajanabha Varsha, but from the time of King Bharata’s reign, it has become known as Bharata Varsha (भारतवर्ष). Bharata was a very learned and experienced king on this earth. He perfectly ruled over the citizens, engaging himself assiduously in all his kingly duties. Bharata was as affectionate towards the citizens as his father and grandfather had been. Keeping them engaged in their occupational duties, he ruled the land.
Bharata performed several Yajnas, known as agni-hotra, darsha, purnamasa, caturmasya, pashu-yajna and soma-yajna. This was his way of worship of the Supreme Being. Interestingly, at the end of each Yajna, he did not ask for anything, offering the Yajna and all its fruits to Bhagavan Vasudeva! He rationalised that the various gods propitiated in Yajnas were only parts of the Bhagavan Virat Purusha, so He is the supreme deity to be offered all the Yajna offerings.
एवं कर्मविशुद्ध्या विशुद्धसत्त्वस्यान्तर्हृदयाकाशशरीरे ब्रह्मणि भगवति वासुदेवे महापुरुषरूपोपलक्षणे श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभवनमालारिदरगदादिभिरुपलक्षिते निजपुरुषहृल्लिखितेनात्मनि पुरुषरूपेण विरोचमान उच्चैस्तरां भक्तिरनुदिनमेधमानरयाजायत ॥
T: Thus, with his devotion swelling day by day, purfified by all his rituals, Bharata envisioned and woshipped in his heart the Supreme Being, Bhagavan Vasudeva, who was none other than Para Brahman, the Virat Purusha, appearing in His chosen form with Srivasta on His chest, wearing the Kaustubha necklace, holding Gada, Chakra and so on. This, Bharata did in an exalted state of Bhakti.
After a very long time (even by the reckoning of Puranas), Bharata apportioned and handed over the kingdom to his sons, retired from family life, and went away to Pulaha Ashrama in the Himalayan region where one gets the sacred Vishnu Saligramas in the Gandaki river.
यत्र ह वाव भगवान् हरिरद्यापि तत्रत्यानां निजजनानां वात्सल्येन सन्निधाप्यत इच्छारूपेण ॥
T: There, even today, Bhagavan Sri Hari gives Darshan to His ardent devotees by His sweet will.
This is now known as Muktinath! I have been there! The Saligramas are recognised by the sacred symbols of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu like Shankha and Chakra on them. You can find them in most Vaishnava temples around the world.
Bharata lived in a hermitage, collecting roots, fruits, leaves and bulbs for worship. He lived on little, but was fully satisfied. He had no material attachment. His only thought was Bhakti.
Thinking of Bhagavan, the hairs of Bharata's body stood on end, and all the ecstatic bodily symptoms were manifest. Tears flowed from his eyes, so much so that he could not see anything. Thus he constantly meditated on the lotus feet of the Lord. At that time, his heart, which was like a lake, was filled with the water of ecstatic love. When his mind was immersed in that lake, he forgot to perform the rituals of worship, even.
Bharata was handsome. The wealth of curly hair on his head was wet from his bathing three times daily. He dressed in a deerskin. He worshipped Lord Narayana, whose body was composed of golden effulgence and who resided within the sun. Bharata chanted the hymns given in the Rigveda, and he recited the following verse as the sun rose.
परोरज: सवितुर्जातवेदो देवस्य भर्गो मनसेदं जजान । सुरेतसाद: पुनराविश्य चष्टे हंसं गृध्राणं नृषद्रिङ्गिरामिम: ॥
I wish to quote the commentary of Sridhara, the medieval saint on this shloka.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
