Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Bharata included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of Bharata
A son of Ṛṣ.
Genealogy and birth.
Descending in order from վṣṇ--ⲹܱԳ-Priyavrata-ī--Ṛṣ-Bharata.
Emperor Priyavrata partitioned his empire to his eight children. ī got ܻ屹ī貹. ī had nine sons: , ܰṣa, Ჹṣa, 屹ṛt, Ramya, Hiraṇvan, Kuru ś and ٳܳ. On the death of the father ܻ屹ī貹 was divided into nine states and got the land called Hima. married ѱܻī and got a son, Ṛṣ. Ṛṣ had a hundred sons and Bharata was the eldest. (Chapter 1, Aṃśam 2, վṣṇ Purāṇa).
Marriage, administration and entry into Āśrama life.
Bharata took over the administration of the kingdom at the death of his father, Ṛṣ. He married ʲñᲹī daughter of վśū貹. They had five sons, Sumati, Rāṣtrabhṛt, ܻ岹śԲ, Āṇa and ٳūٳ. The ʲñ Skandha of 岵ٲ contains a statement to the effect that India got the name ٲ from this king. (It is worthwhile remembering at this juncture a previous statement that the name ٲ was obtained from Bharata, son of ٳṣyԳٲ). Bharata like his forefather was very erudite and affectionate and always respected his duties. He always meditated on and in his heart there shone the Paramapuruṣa in the figure of ܻ𱹲 adorned with Srīvatsa, Kaustubha, ղԲ, Śaṃkha, Cakra, Ҳ and Padma. He ruled the country for a crore of years and after that dividing the country among his sons went to the ś of Pulaha Ѳṣi to spend the rest of his life there. On the rocks lying in the river flowing in front of the Āśrama were the marks of Cakra on one side and on the other and the river therefore came to be known as Cakranābhi. Bathing in this river and doing ū Bharata lived there oblivious of the world outside. (ʲñ Skandha, 岵ٲ).
Bharata and the deer.
Bharata led a purely ascetic life performing everyday the rites laid down by scriptures and muttering the mystic formula of kṣara. One day a thirsty pregnant deer went to drink water in a nearby pond. As it was drinking it heard the loud roar of a lion nearby. Frightened the poor animal without even waiting to quench its thirst ran into the forest and on its way delivered a child and the deer-babe fell into the river. The deer exhausted and tormented by fear ran into a cave and fell down dead. Bharata happened to see the new-born deer floating on the river and took it to his ś. From then onwards Bharata’s mind was diverted from the spiritual to the mundane effort of taking care of the young deer. The deer followed him wherever he went and if it did not turn up in time in the evening after grazing Bharata went about in search of it weeping. Years went by and Bharata became old and died with the name of the deer on his lips. (ʲñ Skandha, 岵ٲ).
Rebirths of Bharata.
Because he died with the thought of the deer in his mind he was reborn as a deer. The deer was aware of his previous birth and regretted that he spent the life of a man for the sake of a deer. The deer, therefore, left the house of his mother in the mountain of ñᲹ and went to the ś of Pulaha. The pious animal daily bathed in the river and died there on the bank of that river. So in its next life the deer was born as the son of a brahmin in the line of ṅg. That brahmin had two wives and got nine sons of his first wife and one of the second. The son born to the second wife was none other than Bharata. In due course the brahmin died and his second wife jumped into the funeral pyre and ended her life. Thrown an orphan Bharata became a puppet in the hands of his brothers. Bharata was asked to look after the cattle and fields of his brothers for his living. With great forbearance Bharata did all he was told.
One day Bharata was keeping watch over the fields of his brothers. It was midnight. In the neighbourhood the 䲹ṇḍ were making merry over the birth of a child to one of the women. Some of them were bringing a man bound by ropes to be given as 'Narabali' to the goddess ī. (Narabali is the offering of a human being with his head cut off to propitiate a deity). On the way the man escaped and the disappointed 䲹ṇḍ were roaming about in search of a substitute when they came across Bharata keeping watch over the fields. Immediately he was bound by ropes and taken before the idol of ī. The effulgence of the brahmin astounded ī and getting angry for bringing such a pious brahmin for sacrifice she devoured the 䲹ṇḍ and allowed the brahmin to go free.
Escaping from there Bharata reached a village walking all the way. That village was being ruled over by a king called 鲹ūṇa and that king was going to see Kapila Ѳṣi along the banks of the river ṣuī in a palanquin. The palanquin had not enough bearers and so the brahmin was asked to join the team of bearers. As they were moving the palanquin shook because of the wrong steps kept by Bharata. The king reprimanded Bharata and Bharata then gave the king fitting replies based on the ethics of ձԳٲ. The erudition of Bharata greatly impressed the king and he stepped down from the palanquin and bowed to Bharata.
Bharata went from there to the forests singing devotional songs in praise of վṣṇ and at last attained salvation. (ʲñ Skandha, 岵ٲ).