Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 5 · Chapter 7

The Activities of King Bharata

5.7.1

श्रीशुक उवाच भरतस्तु महाभागवतो यदा भगवतावनितलपरिपालनाय सञ्चिन्तितस्तदनुशासनपर: पञ्चजनीं विश्वरूपदुहितरमुपयेमे ॥ १ ॥

sri-suka uvaca bharatas tu maha-bhagavato yada bhagavatavani-tala-paripalanaya sancintitas tad-anusasana-parah pancajanim visvarupa-duhitaram upayeme.

Sukadeva Gosvami continued speaking to Maharaja Pariksit: My dear King, Bharata Maharaja was a topmost devotee. Following the orders of his father, who had already decided to install him on the throne, he began to rule the earth accordingly. When Bharata Maharaja ruled the entire globe, he followed the orders of his father and married Pancajani, the daughter of Visvarupa.

5.7.2

तस्यामु ह वा आत्मजान् कार्त्स्‍न्येनानुरूपानात्मन: पञ्च जनयामास भूतादिरिव भूतसूक्ष्माणि सुमतिं राष्ट्रभृतं सुदर्शनमावरणं धूम्रकेतुमिति ॥ २ ॥

tasyam u ha va atmajan kartsnyenanurupan atmanah panca janayam asa bhutadir iva bhuta-suksmani sumatim rastrabhrtam sudarsanam avaranam dhumraketum iti.

Just as the false ego creates the subtle sense objects, Maharaja Bharata created five sons in the womb of Pancajani, his wife. These sons were named Sumati, Rastrabhrta, Sudarsana, Avarana and Dhumraketu.

5.7.3

अजनाभं नामैतद्वर्षं भारतमिति यत आरभ्य व्यपदिशन्ति ॥ ३ ॥

ajanabham namaitad varsam bharatam iti yata arabhya vyapadisanti.

Formerly this plane was known as Ajanabha-varsa, but since Maharaja Bharata’s reign, it has become known as Bharata-varsa.

5.7.4

स बहुविन्महीपति: पितृपितामहवदुरुवत्सलतया स्वे स्वे कर्मणि वर्तमाना: प्रजा: स्वधर्ममनुवर्तमान: पर्यपालयत् ॥ ४ ॥

sa bahuvin mahi-patih pitr-pitamahavad uru-vatsalataya sve sve karmani vartamanah prajah sva-dharmam anuvartamanah paryapalayat.

Maharaja Bharata was a very learned and experienced king on this earth. He perfectly ruled the citizens, being himself engaged in his own respective duties. Maharaja Bharata was as affectionate to the citizens as his father and grandfather had been. Keeping them engaged in their occupational duties, he ruled the earth.

5.7.5

ईजे च भगवन्तं यज्ञक्रतुरूपं क्रतुभिरुच्चावचै: श्रद्धयाऽऽहृताग्निहोत्रदर्शपूर्णमासचातुर्मास्यपशुसोमानां प्रकृतिविकृतिभिरनुसवनं चातुर्होत्रविधिना ॥ ५ ॥

ije ca bhagavantam yajna-kratu-rupam kratubhir uccavacaih sraddhayahrtagnihotra-darsa-purnamasa-caturmasya-pasu-somanam prakrti-vikrtibhir anusavanam caturhotra-vidhina.

With great faith King Bharata performed various kinds of sacrifice. He performed the sacrifices known as agni-hotra, darsa, purnamasa, caturmasya, pasu-yajna (wherein a horse is sacrificed) and soma-yajna (wherein a kind of beverage is offered). Sometimes these sacrifices were performed completely and sometimes partially. In any case, in all the sacrifices the regulations of caturhotra were strictly followed. In this way Bharata Maharaja worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5.7.6

सम्प्रचरत्सु नानायागेषु विरचिताङ्गक्रियेष्वपूर्वं यत्तत्क्रियाफलं धर्माख्यं परे ब्रह्मणि यज्ञपुरुषे सर्वदेवतालिङ्गानां मन्त्राणामर्थनियामकतया साक्षात्कर्तरि परदेवतायां भगवति वासुदेव एव भावयमान आत्मनैपुण्यमृदितकषायो हवि:ष्वध्वर्युभिर्गृह्यमाणेषु स यजमानो यज्ञभाजो देवांस्तान् पुरुषावयवेष्वभ्यध्यायत् ॥ ६ ॥

sampracaratsu nana-yagesu viracitanga-kriyesv apurvam yat tat kriya-phalam dharmakhyam pare brahmani yajna-puruse sarva-devata-linganam mantranam artha-niyama-kataya saksat-kartari para-devatayam bhagavati vasudeva eva bhavayamana atma-naipunya-mrdita-kasayo havihsv adhvaryubhir grhyamanesu sa yajamano yajna-bhajo devams tan purusavayavesv abhyadhyayat.

After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Maharaja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. In other words, he performed all the yajnas for the satisfaction of Lord Vasudeva, Krsna. Maharaja Bharata thought that since the demigods were different parts of Vasudeva’s body, He controls those who are explained in the Vedic mantras. By thinking in this way, Maharaja Bharata was freed from all material contamination, such as attachment, lust and greed. When the priests were about to offer the sacrificial ingredients into the fire, Maharaja Bharata expertly understood how the offering made to different demigods was simply an offering to the different limbs of the Lord. For instance, Indra is the arm of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Surya (the sun) is His eye. Thus Maharaja Bharata considered that the oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto the different limbs of Lord Vasudeva.

5.7.7

एवं कर्मविशुद्ध्या विशुद्धसत्त्वस्यान्तर्हृदयाकाशशरीरे ब्रह्मणि भगवति वासुदेवे महापुरुषरूपोपलक्षणे श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभवनमालारिदरगदादिभिरुपलक्षिते निजपुरुषहृल्लिखितेनात्मनि पुरुषरूपेण विरोचमान उच्चैस्तरां भक्तिरनुदिनमेधमानरयाजायत ॥ ७ ॥

evam karma-visuddhya visuddha-sattvasyantar-hrdayakasa-sarire brahmani bhagavati vasudeve maha-purusa-rupopalaksane srivatsa-kaustubha-vana-malari-dara-gadadibhir upalaksite nija-purusa-hrl-likhitenatmani purusa-rupena virocamana uccaistaram bhaktir anudinam edhamana-rayajayata.

In this way, being purified by ritualistic sacrifices, the heart of Maharaja Bharata was completely uncontaminated. His devotional service unto Vasudeva, Lord Krsna, increased day after day. Lord Krsna, the son of Vasudeva, is the original Personality of Godhead manifest as the Supersoul (Paramatma) as well as the impersonal Brahman. Yogis meditate upon the localized Paramatma situated in the heart, jnanis worship the impersonal Brahman as the Supreme Absolute Truth, and devotees worship Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental body is described in the sastras. His body is decorated with the Srivatsa, the Kaustubha jewel and a flower garland, and His hands hold a conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower. Devotees like Narada always think of Him within their hearts.

5.7.8

एवं वर्षायुतसहस्रपर्यन्तावसितकर्मनिर्वाणावसरोऽधिभुज्यमानं स्वतनयेभ्यो रिक्थं पितृपैतामहं यथादायं विभज्य स्वयं सकलसम्पन्निकेतात्स्वनिकेतात् पुलहाश्रमं प्रवव्राज ॥ ८ ॥

evam varsayuta-sahasra-paryantavasita-karma-nirvanavasaro ’dhibhujyamanam sva-tanayebhyo riktham pitr-paitamaham yatha-dayam vibhajya svayam sakala-sampan-niketat sva-niketat pulahasramam pravavraja.

Destiny fixed the time for Maharaja Bharata’s enjoyment of material opulence at one thousand times ten thousand years. When that period was finished, he retired from family life and divided the wealth he had received from his forefathers among his sons. He left his paternal home, the reservoir of all opulence, and started for Pulahasrama, which is situated in Hardwar. The salagrama-silas are obtainable there.

5.7.9

यत्र ह वाव भगवान् हरिरद्यापि तत्रत्यानां निजजनानां वात्सल्येन सन्निधाप्यत इच्छारूपेण ॥ ९ ॥

yatra ha vava bhagavan harir adyapi tatratyanam nija-jananam vatsalyena sannidhapyata iccha-rupena.

At Pulaha-asrama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, out of His transcendental affection for His devotee, becomes visible to His devotee, satisfying His devotee’s desires.

5.7.10

यत्राश्रमपदान्युभयतोनाभिभिर्दृषच्चक्रैश्चक्रनदी नाम सरित्प्रवरा सर्वत: पवित्रीकरोति ॥ १० ॥

yatrasrama-padany ubhayato nabhibhir drsac-cakrais cakra-nadi nama sarit-pravara sarvatah pavitri-karoti.

In Pulaha-asrama is the Gandaki River, which is the best of all rivers. The salagrama-sila, the marble pebbles, purify all those places. On each and every marble pebble, up and down, circles like navels are visible.

5.7.11

तस्मिन् वाव किल स एकल: पुलहाश्रमोपवने विविधकुसुमकिसलयतुलसिकाम्बुभि: कन्दमूलफलोपहारैश्च समीहमानो भगवत आराधनं विविक्त उपरतविषयाभिलाष उपभृतोपशम: परां निर्वृतिमवाप ॥ ११ ॥

tasmin vava kila sa ekalah pulahasramopavane vividha-kusuma-kisalaya-tulasikambubhih kanda-mula-phalopaharais ca samihamano bhagavata aradhanam vivikta uparata-visayabhilasa upabhrtopasamah param nirvrtim avapa.

In the gardens of Pulaha-asrama, Maharaja Bharata lived alone and collected a variety of flowers, twigs and tulasi leaves. He also collected the water of the Gandaki River, as well as various roots, fruits and bulbs. With these he offered food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, and, worshiping Him, he remained satisfied. In this way his heart was completely uncontaminated, and he did not have the least desire for material enjoyment. All material desires vanished. In this steady position, he felt full satisfaction and was situated in devotional service.

5.7.12

तयेत्थमविरतपुरुषपरिचर्यया भगवति प्रवर्धमानानुरागभरद्रुतहृदयशैथिल्य: प्रहर्षवेगेनात्मन्युद्भ‍िद्यमानरोमपुलककुलक औत्कण्ठ्यप्रवृत्तप्रणयबाष्पनिरुद्धावलोकनयन एवं निजरमणारुणचरणारविन्दानुध्यानपरिचितभक्तियोगेन परिप्लुतपरमाह्लादगम्भीरहृदयह्रदावगाढधिषणस्तामपि क्रियमाणां भगवत्सपर्यां न सस्मार ॥ १२ ॥

tayettham avirata-purusa-paricaryaya bhagavati pravardhamana-nuraga-bhara-druta-hrdaya-saithilyah praharsa-vegenatmany udbhidyamana-roma-pulaka-kulaka autkanthya-pravrtta-pranaya-baspa-niruddhavaloka-nayana evam nija-ramanaruna-caranaravindanudhyana-paricita-bhakti-yogena paripluta-paramahlada-gambhira-hrdaya-hradavagadha-dhisanas tam api kriyamanam bhagavat-saparyam na sasmara.

That most exalted devotee, Maharaja Bharata, in this way engaged constantly in the devotional service of the Lord. Naturally his love for Vasudeva, Krsna, increased more and more and melted his heart. Consequently he gradually lost all attachment for regulative duties. The hairs of his 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 reddish 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 even forgot the regulative service to the Lord.

5.7.13

इत्थं धृतभगवद्‌व्रत ऐणेयाजिनवाससानुसवनाभिषेकार्द्रकपिशकुटिलजटाकलापेन च विरोचमान: सूर्यर्चा भगवन्तं हिरण्मयं पुरुषमुज्जिहाने सूर्यमण्डलेऽभ्युपतिष्ठन्नेतदु होवाच ॥ १३ ॥

ittham dhrta-bhagavad-vrata aineyajina-vasasanusavanabhisekardra-kapisa-kutila-jata-kalapena ca virocamanah suryarca bhagavantam hiranmayam purusam ujjihane surya-mandale ’bhyupatisthann etad u hovaca.

Maharaja Bharata appeared very beautiful. He had a wealth of curly hair on his head, which was wet from bathing three times daily. He dressed in a deerskin. He worshiped Lord Narayana, whose body was composed of golden effulgence and who resided within the sun. Maharaja Bharata worshiped Lord Narayana by chanting the hymns given in the Rg Veda, and he recited the following verse as the sun rose.

5.7.14

परोरज: सवितुर्जातवेदो देवस्य भर्गो मनसेदं जजान । सुरेतसाद: पुनराविश्य चष्टे हंसं गृध्राणं नृषद्रिङ्गिरामिम: ॥ १४ ॥

paro-rajah savitur jata-vedo devasya bhargo manasedam jajana suretasadah punar avisya caste hamsam grdhranam nrsad-ringiram imah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in pure goodness. He illuminates the entire universe and bestows all benedictions upon His devotees. The Lord has created this universe from His own spiritual potency. According to His desire, the Lord entered this universe as the Supersoul, and by virtue of His different potencies, He is maintaining all living entities desiring material enjoyment. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who is the giver of intelligence