Bhara (Son of Ārshṭisheṇa)

Bhara

Suprabha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Suprabha.

Bhara was the son of King Ārshṭisheṇa and his wife Jayā. Intelligent and his father’s favourite, he was expert in archery and the Vedas, and his wife was the beautiful Suprabhā. His father is the king Ārshṭisheṇa, not the ṛshi of that name.

In the Gautamī Māhātmya, Brahmā tells Nārada the account of Devatīrtha. King Ārshṭisheṇa placed the kingdom in Bhara’s charge and took dīkshā (initiation) for an aśvamedha on the banks of the Sarasvatī. During the rite the dānava Mithu destroyed the yajña and carried the king, the queen and the purohita off to pātāla. The purohita’s young son Devāpi came to Bhara and said: “All those taken to the netherworlds must be brought back by me, through the power of tapas, brahmacarya, sacred rites and observances. Rule the whole earth like your father Ārshṭisheṇa. O king, protect my mother until I return with my task done. O Bhara, give me leave to go.” After careful thought Bhara answered: “Achieve your purpose. Go happily. Do not worry at all.” By the grace of Bhagavān Śiva, Devāpi brought the captives back, and the aśvamedha was completed on the Gautamī.

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 57