॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Sunday, 11 December 2022 V.15 - The line of succession that follows King Bharata and the story of King Gaya, celebrated for his greatness.
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The son of King Bharata known as Sumati followed the path of Rishabhadeva. But there are many deviant sects who worship him as an alternative deity instead of recognising how he fitted into the practice of Vedic religion.
Sage Shuka enumerates in each generation the king's name, his queen's name, their children, who was the prince who succeeded to the throne, and so on. This is done for many generations. This was required in the narratives of yore as the listeners were closer to those times and had a sense of detailed succession history. I am leaving out those details here as it will tax my brain.
King Pratiha, coming after a few generations, was noble and set an example of a realised person. He was a true Rajarshi.
A few generations later, King Nakta’s wife was Druti, and from her womb, the great King Gaya was born. Gaya was very famous and pious; he was the best of saintly kings. Being filled with what is known as vishuddha-sattva, the essence of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, Gaya was fully realised in the knowledge of Atma. Therefore he was called a Mahapurusha (An exemplar of great men).
स वै स्वधर्मेण प्रजापालन पोषणप्रीणनोपलालनानुशासनलक्षणेनेज्यादिना च भगवति महापुरुषे परावरे ब्रह्मणि सर्वात्मनार्पितपरमार्थलक्षणेन ब्रह्मविच्चरणानुसेवयाऽऽपादितभगवद्भक्तियोगेन चाभीक्ष्णश: परिभावितातिशुद्ध मतिरुपरतानात्म्य आत्मनि स्वयमुपलभ्यमानब्रह्मात्मानुभवोऽपि निरभिमान एवावनिमजूगुपत् ॥
T: Gaya's avowed Dharma was to nurture his citizens, protect their property, and support their all-round upliftment. He also saw to it that there was sufficient food to feed all the citizens. He would sometimes distribute generous gifts to the citizens. He addressed them in sweet words and gave them good instructions on how to become model citizens. He was also an exemplary Grihasta who upheld all the prescribed duties and rituals in Yajnas. He was an unalloyed pure devotee of Bhagavan. Naturally, he was called a Mahapurursha.
Being devoted and respectful towards exalted Bhaktas, King Gaya was also free from bodily attachments. He exuded bliss, being always connected within to Brahman. Free from anxieties and arrogance, he simply concentrated on being the best he could be as a king.
The daughters of Daksha Prajapati had become holy rivers. They came and bathed King Daya with their blessings. Earth came personified as a cow and gave the milk of plenty to Gaya so that he could satisfy the desires of his citizens. However, personally, Gaya had no want or demand.
All the gods were pleased with Gaya's Yajnas. Indra came and partook of the celestial Soma rasa. Bhagavan Vishnu Himself came and accepted the Yajna offerings. All the Brahmins praised King Gaya for his nobility, righteousness, generosity and administration.
Some generations later came King Viraja.
तत्रायं श्लोक:—
प्रैयव्रतं वंशमिमं विरजश्चरमोद्भव: । अकरोदत्यलं कीर्त्या विष्णु: सुरगणं यथा ॥
T: “Because of his high qualities and wide fame, King Viraja became the jewel of the dynasty of King Priyavrata, just as Lord Vishnu, by His transcendental potency, brought total glory to all the gods.”
