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Srimad Bhãgavatam - Fifth Canto - Jadabharata Charithra (Part 1)

Upanishads conclude that everything except ‘Brahman’ is a mere illusion. For the simple reason that we cannot understand it, we cannot deem the Upanishads to be wrong, because we have many standing examples of Mahans who have attained this highest state of ‘Atmaswaroopa’ (Self). Since these Mahans have attained liberation or ‘BrahmaBhava’ (Self-realization) during their lifetime itself, they are called as ‘JivanMuktãs’. The biography of such great Mahans prove to be good examples and a real source of inspiration to all of us.

In the Fifth Chapter of Srimad Bhãgavatam, the biography of Jadabharata, who was a Jivanmukta, is expounded. In the days of the past, the country of Bhãrata (India) was ruled by a king named Bharata who was the son of RishabhaDeva. During his reign, he performed many sacrificial rites and surrendered the fruits of his deeds to the Almighty. Thus, he led the life of a Karma Yogi and the country prospered under his reign. After ruling the country for many years, king Bharata handed over the kingdom to his sons and went to the forest to perform penance as did the kings of the past.

Having exceptional devotion for Lord Vãsudeva, the dweller of the lotus of his heart, and considering all the pleasures of the kingdom to be farce, Jadabharata left for Pulahãshrama in the Holy kshetra of Haridwãr. He took bath in the Chakra Thirtha, which was purifying the place. Due to the extreme dispassion he had, his mind was ever peaceful. With the flowers and tulasi available in the vicinity, he joyfully worshiped the deity there. Thus he was performing severe penance. He offered the fruits, leaves and roots available in the neighborhood to the Lord and consumed the same as Prasada.

Since he served the Lord relentlessly, he developed Prema Bhakti towards the Lord. While meditating on the Lord, his body showed signs of Prema Bhakti such as tears of joy, horripulation etc. At times, immersed in the Divine Bliss, he even forgot to worship the Lord.

Having bathed in the river, Bharata sat on the riverbank chanting the sacred “OM”. At that time, a pregnant deer came there to quench its thirst. As it was drinking the water, there was a loud roar of a lion. Petrified by the lion’s roar, the deer delivered prematurely. Thoroughly exhausted after the premature delivery, the deer passed away.

Bharata, who witnessed all this from the bank, was filled with compassion for the baby deer. He felt that it was his duty to take the helpless little one unto his fold and safeguard it. Gradually, he developed an attachment to the little deer and was ever immersed in thoughts about the deer. This attachment slowly drew him away from his sadhana and at one point, he completely abandoned all his spiritual practices. He was so bound to the deer that he could not bear its separation even for a moment.

Bharata, who had renounced his kingdom, wealth, power, wife and children in order to attain liberation, was now caught in the bondage of a deer. Days rolled by and Bharata’s attachment to the deer only grew stronger. Finally, he was in his deathbed and breathed his last with the thought of the deer in his mind. As a result, he was born as a deer in his next birth.

To be continued……….

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