Jada Bharata Upakhyanam
Bharata was the son of Vrishabha Deva, an avatar of Sri Hari, in this Manvantara. .
He was a great Jnani from childhood. he ruled his province well, passed away
peacefully after donating all his wealth to the needy. While on his death bed,
he remembered a young deer, whom he had rescued from a forest while he was on
hunting spree, some time ago. The deer had lost its mother, and Bharata
brought it to the Palace, took care of this innocent creature. He eventually
died and after death, he took birth as a deer. Since he was a Jnani of highest
order, had the memories of his previous life.
As a deer, Bharata was roaming in the forest amidst the places where
great Yogis & Rishis had their Ashramas, regularly heard their discourses
and felt happy. One day he as a deer, died on the banks of river Ganga.
In his next Birth, he was born as son of a brahmana. named again as Bharata. This time, he did not show
his wisdom, and behaved like a foolish
boy. People made fun of him, street boys pelted stones at him, some even spit on
him, which he never bothered. He lived in Sidhu desha, where he was born and
started roaming wherever he liked. People called him Jada Bharata. No one had time or
interest to identify his depth of Spiritual knowledge looking at his external appearance.
One day it so happened that the King of Sindhu
Province, Rahugana, was being carried in a raoyal Palanqin by four men. He saw Bharata, sitting
idle in front of a house. The King's men pulled him, asked him to carry the
King's carrier. As he was well built they felt happy that they got a strong young man as servant. Bharata joined others and carried the king’s
palanquin with them. After some time, the palanqin lost its balance. The King was
about to fall. As the carrier tilted.
The angry king shouted at Bharata: 'Oh! I made a mistake in asking an idiot like you to carry me, you eat and sleep well, strong though old, why not you carry me properly?' Bharata heard all his abuses for a while and then spoke to the King:
Tvayoditam vyaktamavipralabdham – You are speaking nonsense.
Bhartuh sa me syat yadi Veera bhaarah - If I carry you,
then the question of me feeling heavy arises. I am not carrying you.
Ganturyadi syat adhigamyamadhvaa- If I wanted to go, then the question, where to go arises. I am neither carrying you nor walking on my own, my limbs are taking me ahead on this way. Neither I am well built nor skinny. Who are you speaking Sir?
Ayam Jano naama chalan Prithivyaam -
yah Parthivah paarthiva kasya hetoh ?
tasyaapi changhryoradhigulpha janghaa
janooru madhyorashirondharaamsaah ||
- “You are telling me that you are the King, King for whom? You
think you sit, and I carry you, which
is not true. My legs are supporting me, Above that, there are many organs which
balance me like Stomach, waist, hips... shoulders, and palanqin above all this.
I am not in fact carrying you at all! Don’t speak like a fool, you are supposed to
be a wise king. You think that I am the King of Souveera Desha.Is it true? It
is a designation - Roodha Nama. It might go away any time from you. Rajasmi Sindhushviti Durmadhandhah - You
feel that I am the King and hence you are made blind with your arrogance.”
The King now realised his mistake. He got down the carrier and bowed to Bharata, and sought wisdom from him. He said: Forget that you are the King. The Supreme King is Him, Sri Hari, think of him. Today you rule, you might be killed any time in a war with an enemy, your son or enemy succedes you. This goes on and on... Where is your Kingship? Instead think of Him, and surrender to Him for good. When you were in your mother's womb, were you a King then? After your death, does anyone calls you by that designation? Bharata enlightened the king by teaching him real Bhagavata dharma, the royal path for a meaningful life. King Rahoogana, realised his mistakes and lived a better life thereof .
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