Bhagwat Session 36

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Thirty Sixth Session 

Bhagavata Chaturth Skanda (Book Five)

Chapter 7 to 9

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Story

Rishabh dev crowned Bharat the King and guided all his sons to support him in ruling the kingdom. When Bharat ruled the kingdom it is said that every citizen was selfless and the entire globe was a safe heaven. His rule was so divine that, the subdivision of Jambudwipa, known as Ajanabha, was renamed Bharat Varsa (Varsa meaning subdivision). Bharat Varsa is the name of our country, which is currently called India or at times Hindustan.

During his reign he conduced many Yagnas and offered even the rewards, which was expected by all the sacrifices to the Lord of the Sacrifices. He could see that there was no two, there was only one in the offering, the person offering and that God (various deities including Indra) who was accepting. Such elevated was King Bharat’s state of being.

He was married to Pancajani and had 5 sons, each as divine as Bharat himself. King Bharat realised that 10 million years had gone by and now he must have exhausted all the good merits. Not only this, he also saw that all his sons were able and ready to shoulder his responsibility. Hence, he just like all his ancestors tore down the shackles of the material world, and went on to the next Ashram - Vanaprasth Ashrama. 

King Bharat went near the hermitage of Sage Pulaha, situated at the banks of Gandaki, also knows as the Salagramaksetra, a place where Shri Hari reveals himself in his true devotees desired form even today. He made a small tattered hut for himself and immersed in deep Tapa (austerities) with one pointed focus - The Lord. He was focused and discipled and could think of nothing other than the Lord with every breath.

One morning while he was engaged in his daily Tapa, he saw a Doe which had by chance strayed from its herd, drinking water, when a loud roar of the lion scared her into taking a leap from one bank to another, in the course of the leap, its womb gave way and the baby deer feel into the stream of water. The doe reached the other side but died immediately due to fear and fatigue.

Bharat immediately jumped to rescue the deer and nursed it back to health. In the process, he developed a strong attachment towards the deer and spend most of his time tending and waiting on the deer. When the deer went into the jungle, Bharat would spend time worried waiting for it to return safely. His entire being was immersed in the thought of the deer, leaving no place for anything else.

Soon all his austerities and spiritual practices were forgotten and the Great King Bharat who was able to snap in a minute the ties with his kith and kin, got entangled in attachment with this deer. Time went by and the time for his death arrived, even then all he could think of was this deer standing next to him like a son, shedding tears and worrying about what would happen to the deer after he died, he left his body, without turning his mind towards God.

Hence, he was born as a deer in his next birth, and luckily because of his love for the Lord, his precious lives memories did not leave him. He repented and left his mother, the doe and his home in the Kalanjara forest and ones again went to sage Pulastya and Pulaha’s ashram, there keeping away from all, yet listening to the divine Satsang, he waiting for the time to leave this animal body, which was unfit for meditation. He would stand in the water half submerged, this posture knowns as Ardhajala, which is said to have a potential to give a higher birth, if in this posture at the time of death. 

When the time came, he left the Deer Body and was born in the family of a great Brahmin sage, who was a decedent of sage Angira. This Brahim had 2 wives, from the first he had 9 sons and from the second he had 1 son (Jada Bharat) and a daughter. 

He still had the memories of his previous births, and determined not get entangled in infatuations and attachment, he depited him self and as a dim wit and a fool. He kept to himself and all the efforts put in by his father to teach him failed, he was even unable or unwilling to learn the ‘Gayatri Mantra’. The brahmin father, however made sure he did all the Samskaras for Jada Bharat up till the Samavartana and soon passed away. His mother too handed over her two children to the first wife and left her body with her husband.

His bothers and their family tried to be patient with Jada Bharat but, at last lost all patience and thinking of him as dull and stupid, started mistreating him. Not knowing, that the knowledge of the three veda, which they possessed, is not higher than the knowledge of the self, which Jada Bharat revelled in. He was miss treated, humiliated and shouted at, at times was denied food and at times given left over or rotten food. Inspite of all this, Jada Bharat remained ‘equipoise’ and kept his cover.

He was asked to guard the fields and would spend his time there. One day a few people of the bandit tribes kidnapped him. They were preparing a human sacrifice for their Chieftain, who wanted to offer a human to Bhadrakali, seeking to be blessed with a son. However, the human, somehow escaped and when they saw Jada Bharat and his strong personality, they felt he would make a good sacrifice.

Jada Bharat did not resist the attack, nor did he resist the preparation baths and food he was offered. Later when the sword was approaching him to chop his neck, he sat unruffled immersed in the bliss of the divine. However, Ma Kali could not see this torture of a divine devotee and immerged from the statue with her retinue and lopping the heads of all the bandit, she drank the blood and danced the dance of horror. Even at this Jada Bharat exhibitted not emotions and walked aways lost in divine bliss.

He wandered from place to place and was noticed by a group of palanquin bearers at the bank of Iksumati river. Seeing his stout, young and muscular personality they got him to help them lift the Palanquin of Kind Rahugana - of the region Sindhu and Sauvira, who was headed to the the Ashram of Kapila Muni. 

King Rahugana, was no other than the Deer, which was nurtured with so much attachment by Bharat in his previous birth. It is said that he was to have taken 100 more births before getting a human body. However, that company a saint like King Bharat, got him a Human body in just few births. Such is the magic of the company of the sages.

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Points to Ponder

It is all That One

King Bharat knew the subtle secret, that all is one hence, while doing the yangna he was offering back all the reward to the Lord himself.

Tera tujhko arpan,

Kya lage mera.

‘The jiva has acquired the false vanity, thinking that it is he who is making the offering in the yagna. The fact is that the person can offer oblation in the yagna when inspired by the Lord to do so, only then can the deity (say Indra) receive it.

There is not body who is doing the rituals and no body who is enjoying the results. It is the one Lord seated in the heart of all. The giver and the taker are not two. There is only one.’

Attachment - The cause of Downfall

‘Ante matih saa gatih’

Whatever we have in mind in our last moments and whatever we are attached to determines our next birth. Just like, Bharat had the deer in his mind, hence was born as a deer himself.

Raag - Attachment is not necessary and not having attachment does not mean that one is void of Love.

Attachment is selfish, love is selfless 

Attachment hurts, love heals

Attachment binds, love liberates

These two terms can not be used interchangeably or in the same breath.

Attachment - Clouds ones thinking, is filled with fear of loss and disappointments due to expectations.

Detachment - Clears ones thinking, is filled will feeling of freedom for self/others and is liberating cause there is no expectation involved.

Sub Stories to explain attachment:

- Burning House

A man was discussing about the news of a house which was on fire, he was eating and having drink and very casually talking, occasionally with a smile on his face. When suddenly his servant ran in and informed the that house which was on fire was his. This same man who as calm and composed a minute back, panicked and dropped his drink, started perspiring profusely and ran madly towards his home. 

What had changed? 

It was a house, later it became ‘My’ house. It is all about me and mine that drives us. Or shall is say the false notion of ‘Mine’ and ‘Thine’, this maya, the deluding power clouds our judgement. 

- Sage (The women and that baby)

There was this Girl and a boy who loved each other, but knew that the family will never accept their relation. It just to happened that this girl became pregnant and later gave birth to a baby. But, refused to tell anyone who the father was. On being, pressured to tell, she looked at the sage who was just walking by and said, eh is the father.

The villager got wild and started abusing the sage. The sage remained quiet and when asked to look after the girl and the baby. He took the baby and walked to his ashram. People kept on abusing the sage over the years. Yet the sage kept taking care of the girl and the baby.

One day finally, the girl and the boy gather courage and owned up their relationship and said that he sage was innocent. All the villagers repented mistreating the divine sage. They apologised and asked the sage to give back the baby who now a small little toddler.

The sage with the same calm, with which he had taken baby, gave it back and walked away.

Was there not Love for the child?

Yes, there was love, sages harbour divine love for all. But, there was no attachment. 

Being in the Grihasta Ashram, one can be a better mom, a better dad, a better friend, a better child, basically I can be a better me if is free myself of attachment and fill my heart with divine love.

- Sage (The question of the King) 

Ones a sage visited a king and the kind asked him to stay. The sage accepted the offer and started living there and doing all that he king was doing. He was using all the luxuries and eating all the lavish treats. Now, the king had a doubt creep up his mind, and thought that this sage was just a ‘Dhongi’. So after a few months he gathered the courage and asked the sage;

‘You are doing all that I am doing, what is the difference between you and me?’

The sage did not reply that very moment he got up and started walking. The king followed him persistently asking and demanding an answer and the sage kept walking, till they walked for day and had to cross the border of the kings country. The king asked the sage to stop, and said he had a kingdom, a family and he had to return. To which the sage answered;

‘That is the difference between you and me, I don’t have to go back. You gave so I used, and now if i don’t have, it does not matter.’ 

You can own things, but don’t let the things own you. Using something is alright, but getting attached to it is the cause of a massive downfall.

- Raja Janak and SukhDevji

Sukhdevji was sent to Raja Janak to seek knowledge. Sukhdevji looked at Raja Janak as a Grihasta and felt it below his divinity to take knowledge from someone living in the midst of all opulence. However, on the insistence of Vyasa he went. For many months Raja Janak did not let him, and when the ego was a bit dampened, he allowed him in the court.

Sukhdev looked around and felt what lesson with this gold studded man teach me. Raja Janak understood and gave him bowl filled to the brim with oil. He said, go enjoy my city, but mind you the minute even a drop of oils fall and touches the ground your head will be chopped, but he man walking behind you with the sword.

Now, Sukhdevji was very careful, he walked around all day, the king had made special arrangement for entertainment and decorations were specially put in place. In the evening finally Sukhdevji was allowed to return and he put down the bowl and looked up finally.

Raja Janak asked, so how was the my city, Sukhdevji said, I just walked around without noticing or being distracted. I did not see anything. The minute he said that he fell to Raja Janak feet and took him as his guru. 

Raja Janak lived in the world, but had his eye on the divine and kept in mind that the time of death can arrive anytime. Doing all his karmas, yet he was always connected to the Lord.

We know ourselves the best, ask yourself?

- The relationships that I hold so close, are they love or are they attachment?

- Is a mothers relationship with her child not selfish? She loves him/her cause he is her son. Had the same child not been her son, would she love him as much?

- Am I using what I have or am I attached to my possession?

Devotion - Is carried forward

Bharat due to attachment to the deer, had to be born as a deer and later as Jada Bharat, but God blessed him with memory of his past births, so that he could amend his mistake and reach his goal

‘Worship of Lord is never wasted. The person who worships the Lord may slip and fall, may have to born as an animal or bird, but his devotion to Lord will be retained, regardless of the body he acquires. Love for God has its own obvious effects.’

A True Devotee - The Lord Protects

Kali leapt and slaughter the dacoits who were going to kill Jada Bharat. Jada Bharat did not seek protection, he was just immersed in divine bliss.

‘Ja ko rakhe saiya, 

Maar sake na koi.

Baal na baka kar sake,

Jo jag bairi hoye.’

‘The Shrimad Bhagavata implies that this the fate of whoever misbehaves with a Mahatma. The Ramcharitramans says the same;

- Sadhu Avagyaa kara fala aisa, Jare nagar anaath kara jaisaa.

- Jo aparaadha bhagatakara karaeei, Rama rosa paavaka so jarayee.

Jada Bharat had achieved such a state that he felt no anger for anyone. He was neither elated when honoured nor felt fear when they were about to kill him. He was a Stith Pragna - was equally indifferent to respect and insult, life and death, or whatever came to him. 

He knew that the earthen pot is made and broken, but the essence of the earth remains unchanged. It makes no difference to the Atma weather the body is dead or alive.’ Swami Akhandanadaji

We know ourself the best, Ask yourself: 

- How true a devotee I am? 

- What is my state of being?

- What is my level of surrender?

Power of Sat Ka sung - It Uplifts

The deer who was to take 100 birth before getting the human birth was uplifted by the company of King Bharat and got a Human birth as King Rahugana.

King Rahugana was very fond of satsang, because the company and the impression of the precious life always leave their influence. The influence of his precious life was so strong that he did not enjoy any company other than the company of Mahatmas.

What is meant by Satsang?

- Satsang is that which brings us closer to our Dharma.

What is our Dharma?

- Our Dharma is Sat Chid Anand

We should aways be in the company of that which brings us closer to our satchidanand swaroop. Anything that takes us aways from our Satchidanand swaroop should be avoided, it could be anything people, place, thing etc

In the same way there might be a question as to what is good company and what is bad company? Or what is good desire and what is bad desire?

Again, any company or desire that takes us towards our satchidanand swaroop, is good and any company or desire that takes us aways from our satchidanand swaroop is bad.

We know ourself the best, Ask yourself?

- Am a Tree trunk that can get to the other bank and carry many with me to safely?

- Am I just a small twig or thin branch which can float to safety if left alone, but will sink if held on to?

- Am I a twig or a branch who is unable to float to the other bank on my own, I myself need support?

The answer defines the choice of company…

Jai Shri Krishna🙏

Jai Hanuman🙏