Bharata, Son of Dushyanta

Bharata, son of King Dushyanta and Śakuntalā, was the great cakravartī (emperor of the whole earth) of the Paurava line. The whole land of Bhāratavarsha is named after him. He was born as a portion (aṃśa) of Śrī Hari. He performed 133 Aśvamedha yajñas on the banks of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā. He ruled for 27,000 years and brought all the peoples of the earth under his rule. He freed the women of the devas who were held captive in Rasātala. In the end he gained liberation through ātmajñāna (knowledge of the self) and merged into Śrī Hari.

This Bharata is a different person from Bharata the son of Ṛshabhadeva, and from Bharata the son of Daśaratha in the Solar dynasty.

Birth and nature

Bharata was born in the forest āśrama of Kaṇva Maharshi. His father was the kshatriya king Dushyanta and his mother was Śakuntalā. The Bhāgavata says he had great power from birth. Even as a child he seized lions, tigers and elephants and played with them like toys. His body bore the marks of a ruler of the whole earth: a cakra (wheel) on his right hand and padma (lotus) marks on his feet.

His name came from the ākāśavāṇī (a voice from the sky) at Dushyanta’s court. The divine voice said “bharasva”, which means “sustain him”. So the child was called Bharata. After Dushyanta died, Bharata was consecrated as cakravartī (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 9th Skandha, Chapter 20).

Imperial reign

Bharata performed 55 Aśvamedha yajñas on the bank of the Gaṅgā and 78 on the bank of the Yamunā. That makes 133 in all. Each had rich dakshiṇā (gifts to the priests). At one yajña he gave 14 lakh large elephants decked with golden ornaments. He gave each of one thousand brāhmaṇas a herd of 13,084 cows. The Bhāgavata says that no king before or after Bharata did what he did in these yajñas and gifts.

His rule covered all lands. In his conquest of the directions (dig-vijaya) he defeated and killed the Kirātas, Hūṇas, Yavanas, Andhras, Kaṅkas, Khaśas, Śakas, mlecchas and all the kings who opposed the Vedic path. He also rescued the women of the devaloka who had been carried off to Rasātala by strong rākshasas who had beaten the devas. He brought them back to their own world. Under his rule the earth and the higher worlds gave freely. Rains came on time, harvests were full and all beings prospered. He ruled without a break for 27,000 years (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 9th Skandha, Chapter 20).

Sons and the gift of Bharadvāja

Bharata had three wives, all daughters of the royal house of Vidarbha. Yet his sons were not thought fit to carry on his line. The wives feared that he would abandon them, and they killed the children themselves. Bharata had no heir. So he performed the Marutstoma yajña in honour of the Maruts. The Maruts were pleased with him. They brought him the child Bharadvāja and gave him to Bharata as a son. Bharadvāja was born from the meeting of Bṛhaspati and Mamatā. Both of his parents had left him, and the Maruts had raised him.

His birth was unusual. Bṛhaspati came to Mamatā, the wife of his elder brother Ūtathya, while she was with child. The unborn child in her womb stopped the union, and that child was cursed (śāpa). When he was born, both Mamatā and Bṛhaspati left him. Each said “bharadvāja”, which means “you two bear him”. The Maruts then raised him. So he came to Bharata as a son given by the devas (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 9th Skandha, Chapter 20).

Liberation

Bharata ruled for 27,000 years. Then he saw that all of it was mithyā (unreal and passing): the rule of a world-emperor, the splendour of the devaloka, and his unmatched power over every direction. He became virakta (free from desire). He gained ātmajñāna, went beyond avidyā (ignorance), and merged into Śrī Hari, the guru of the devas (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 9th Skandha, Chapter 20).

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 9th Skandha, Chapter 20
• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Chapters 62–74