युगादिशुभेच्छा महाजनेभ्यः
अभिवन्दनानि च
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 22 March 2023 - IX.20 - The story of Dushyanta, Bharata and Bharadwaja.
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The two famous dynasties in Bharata (भारत) are the Surya Vamsha and the Chandra Vamsha.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna says in the Gita how He had originally taught the Supreme Truth to Surya, who in turn taught it to Manu and he taught it to his son, Ikshwaku. Sri Rama was the incarnation of Maha Vishnu in the Surya Vamsha or the Solar Dynasty. We should remember that Sri Rama worshipped Surya before the final battle with Ravana.
We are studying now the Chandra Vamsha, to whom belong both Sri Krishna and the Pandavas. In the stories from Pururavas to Yayati, we have seen them to be men of valour, passion and determination.
The famous ones in this line are, in addition to Yadus and Pandavas who came later, King Dushyanta and his son, Emperor Bharata. Indeed, the most widely accepted explanation for India being called Bharata Varsha (भरत वर्ष) is that Bharata was its most distinguished emperor.
Sage Vyasa condenses Bharata's story in this chapter.
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श्रीशुक उवाच
पूरोर्वंशं प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र जातोऽसि भारत । यत्र राजर्षयो वंश्या ब्रह्मवंश्याश्च जज्ञिरे ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated to Parikshit: "I shall now tell you of the lineage of Purus, of whom you are the descendant! This dynasty has been well-known for great kings (Rajarshis) and also great sages who realised the Supreme Brahman."
Fast forward from Puru through many of his descendants in a long line and we come to Dushyanta. King Dushyanta meets the divinely beautiful Shakuntala in Kanva Maharshi's Ashram in one of his hunting expeditions. She offers him all hospitality and explains how she is the daughter of the great sage Vishwamitra through the Apsara Menaka who had left her to be cared for by Sage Kanva. Dudhyanta submits his passionate love for her and they marry. After planting his seed in her, he returns to his capital. Her son is a wonderful boy who plays with lions in the forest! He is raised by Sage Kanva himself very well.
When Shankuntala visits Dudhyanta with her leonine son in the palace, at first Dushyanta rejects her. Bhagavatam does not give the background story of Durvasa's curse etc. as does Kalidasa. Suffice it to say that then there is an oracle heard by all. It is the Almighty Himself speaking. After chiding Dushyanta for rejecting such a great lady who was his wedded wife, Shakuntala, the oracle says this child is indeed his.
माता भस्त्रा पितुः पुत्रो येन जातः स एव सः । भरस्व पुत्रं दुष्यन्त मावमंस्थाः शकुन्तलाम् ॥
पितर्युपरते सोऽपि चक्रवर्ती महायशाः । महिमा गीयते तस्य हरेरंशभुवो भुवि ॥
T: "Oh, King! Know this to be your own son! His mother has been a mere vessel of skin to nourish your seed. Accept this child (भरस्व) and don't commit the grave offence of rejecting the noble Shakuntala!
Also, know that this son of yours will be a supremely distinguished monarch. As the emperor of this land, his name will be sung far and wide as he is indeed the amsha avatara of Bhagavan Sri Hari himself."
Thus accepted, the prince came to be called Bharata and succeeded Dushyanta. His story is narrated in some detail as he did wonderful Yajnas and eradicated all the evil marauders who came to attack this holy land. He was even honoured by all the gods.
भरतस्य महत्कर्म न पूर्वे नापरे नृपाः । नैवापुर्नैव प्राप्स्यन्ति बाहुभ्यां त्रिदिवं यथा ॥
T: There have been no emperors of the greatness and glory of Bharata before or after him in this world. No such hero will ever be born again in the three worlds.
तस्यैवं वितथे वंशे तदर्थं यजतः सुतम् । मरुत्स्तोमेन मरुतो भरद्वाजमुपाददुः ॥
T: The gods - Maruts - responded to Bharata's Yajna for progeny called Marutstoma. They entrusted to Bharata as his son the future Sage Bharadwaja (भरद्वाज). The name is a combination of Bhara and Dvaaja which means he was born from the combined seeds of two fathers - Brihaspati and Uthya!
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
