SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 5- CHAPTER 7

S'rî S'uka said: 'When Bharata ['the one maintained'], being a most exalted devotee, on instigation of his father had made his mind up to rule over the surface of the globe, did he, as he took over the throne, marry the daughter of Vis'varûpa, Pañcajanî.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued speaking to Mahârâja Parîkshit: My dear King, Bharata Mahârâja 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 Mahârâja ruled the entire globe, he followed the orders of his father and married Pañcajanî, the daughter of Vis'varûpa. (Vedabase)

Text 2

Indeed, like one, identified with the body does find the five objects of the senses, did he in her beget five sons, Sumati, Râshthrabhrita, Sudars'ana, Âvarana and Dhûmraketu, who were entirely alike himself.

Just as the false ego creates the subtle sense objects, Mahârâja Bharata created five sons in the womb of Pañcajanî, his wife. These sons were named Sumati, Râshthrabhrita, Sudars'ana, Âvarana and Dhûmraketu. (Vedabase)

Text 3

This part of the world called Ajanâbha [referring to king Nâbhi, see 5: 3] was from the beginning of his rule by them thus celebrated as Bhârata-varsha [the land of Bharata, now India].

Formerly this planet was known as Ajanâbha-varsha, but since Mahârâja Bharata's reign, it has become known as Bharata-varsha. (Vedabase)

Text 4

He, being very advanced in knowledge, was, governing with a caring heart, as great a ruler as his father and grandfather were, keeping the citizens and himself to each his respective duty.

Mahârâja Bharata was a very learned and experienced king on this earth. He perfectly ruled the citizens, being himself engaged in his own respective duties. Mahârâja 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. (Vedabase)

Text 5

He also worshiped the Supreme Lord by great and small sacrifices with and without animals; with faith were in full or partially performed agni-hotra-, dars'a-, pûrnamâsa-, câturmâsya-, pas'u- and soma-rasa-yajñas, that according the regulative principles practically always stood under the direction of four priests. (*)

With great faith King Bharata performed various kinds of sacrifice. He performed the sacrifices known as agni-hotra, dars'a, pûrnamâsa, câturmâsya, pas'u-yajña [wherein a horse is sacrificed] and soma-yajña [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 câturhotra were strictly followed. In this way Bharata Mahârâja worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Always thinking of Vâsudeva, the Supreme Lord, did he, when the expert priests with all supplementary rites began to perform the various sacrifices, by the vedic hymns in that mind freed from lust and anger, consider all the different demigods, the recipients of the results, the ingredients of the offering and himself as the sacrificer, as all being part of the Original Person, who is their Controller, Doer and Origin; and that irrespective what on the long term would be the result of such sacrifices that in the name of the religion were brought unto the Supreme Spirit in the beyond, the Enjoyer of all sacrifices who is responsible for all the divinities.

After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Mahârâja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva. In other words, he performed all the yajñas for the satisfaction of Lord Vâsudeva, Krishna. Mahârâja Bharata thought that since the demigods were different parts of Vâsudeva's body, He controls those who are explained in the Vedic mantras. By thinking in this way, Mahârâja 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, Mahârâja 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 Sûrya [the sun] is His eye. Thus Mahârâja Bharata considered that the oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto the different limbs of Lord Vâsudeva. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Thus in the purest of service was he of the purest of goodness unto the Supersoul within the heart of the body, unto the impersonal spirit of Brahman and unto Bhagavân, the Supreme Lord, Vâsudeva, the Supreme Person whose form is recognized by the S'rîvatsa mark on the chest, the Kaustubha gem, the flowergarland, the disc, the conchshell, the club and other symbols. On the highest level known by His shining personal form is He, once having appeared as an indelible image in the heart of the devotee, as powerful as to increase the devotion day after day.

In this way, being purified by ritualistic sacrifices, the heart of Mahârâja Bharata was completely uncontaminated. His devotional service unto Vâsudeva, Lord Krishna, increased day after day. Lord Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, is the original Personality of Godhead manifest as the Supersoul [Paramâtmâ] as well as the impersonal Brahman. Yogîs meditate upon the localized Paramâtmâ situated in the heart, jñânîs worship the impersonal Brahman as the Supreme Absolute Truth, and devotees worship Vâsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental body is described in the s'âstras. His body is decorated with the S'rîvatsa, the Kaustubha jewel and a flower garland, and His hands hold a conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower. Devotees like Nârada always think of Him within their hearts. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Thus for a countless number of millennia was the wealth enjoyed that he, having it received from his forefathers, at the end of his rule according the laws of Manu had ascertained for his sons; having personally divided the diversity of the opulence among them, he left that abode of the ancestral home and went to the Pulaha-âs'rama in Hardwar.

Destiny fixed the time for Mahârâja 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 Pulahâs'rama, which is situated in Hardwar. The s'âlagrâma-s'ilâs are obtainable there. (Vedabase)

Text 9

It is there that even today one can be certain that the Supreme Lord Hari residing in that place, by His transcendental affection for His own devotees, becomes visible as is desired from one's devotion.

At Pulaha-âs'rama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, out of His transcendental affection for His devotee, becomes visible to His devotee, satisfying His devotee's desires. (Vedabase)

Text 10

At that place are all hermitages everywhere sanctified by the river named the Cakra-nadî. (the Gandakî) from which one sees the concentric circles that like a navel can be observed on top and below [of the black oval pebbles that serve as objects of worship, the so-called S'âlagrâma-s'ilâs].

In Pulaha-âs'rama is the Gandakî River, which is the best of all rivers. The s'âlagrâma-s'ilâ, the marble pebbles, purify all those places. On each and every marble pebble, up and down, circles like navels are visible. (Vedabase)

Text 11

All alone in the fields of that meditation resort did he, by offerings of roots, bulbs and fruits with water, twigs, tulasî-leaves and all kinds of flowers, perform worship unto the Supreme Lord and was he freed from all desire for material enjoyment with a steady increase of the transcendental tranquility and satisfaction that he obtained.

In the gardens of Pulaha-âs'rama, Mahârâja Bharata lived alone and collected a variety of flowers, twigs and tulasî leaves. He also collected the water of the Gandakî River, as well as various roots, fruits and bulbs. With these he offered food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 12

By that constant practice of service to the original personality of the Supreme Lord melted the laxity of his heart by the load of the incessantly increasing attachment to Him; through the force of the transcendental bliss stood the hairs on his body on end and sprang of the intense longing tears of love to his eyes that blurred his vision. Thus meditating the reddish lotus feet of the Lord was there by dint of his bhakti-yoga, an increase spreading everywhere of the highest and deepest spiritual enrapture in the heart, the lake wherein immersed - although his intelligence was working for the Lord - he could no longer remember the regulated service.

That most exalted devotee, Mahârâja Bharata, in this way engaged constantly in the devotional service of the Lord. Naturally his love for Vâsudeva, Krishna, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 13

In this way vowed to the Supreme Lord, did he, dressed in a deerskin and with his mass of brown, curly matted hair, wet of bathing three times a day, so beautiful in worship of the sungod. (*), honor the Original Personality, by paying homage at sunrise reciting the following:

Mahârâja 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 Nârâyana, whose body was composed of golden effulgence and who resided within the sun. Mahârâja Bharata worshiped Lord Nârâyana by chanting the hymns given in the Rig Veda, and he recited the following verse as the sun rose. (Vedabase)