When he retired, Rishaba handed over the sovereignty of his kingdom to his eldest son Bharata. Following his father’s instructions, Bharata began to rule the kingdom. Bharata was wise and experienced and he governed the kingdom with compassion. Just as his father and grandfather before him, he was a benevolent ruler. He ruled perfectly by engaging himself and his citizens in their respective duties.
King Bharata worshipped the Supreme Lord by performing all the religious sacrifices specified in the Vedic literatures. Bharata enjoyed his royal wealth for many years and at the end of his rule he divided his wealth among his sons and retired from the throne. He left his home and went to Pulaha ashram in Hardwar.
In Pulaha ashram Bharata collected water, fruits and various plants and offered them to the Supreme Lord. By worshipping the Lord in this way, Bharata achieved peace of mind and his heart was purified of any desire for sensual pleasure.
One day while Bharata was performing his activities on the bank of the river, a deer came to the river to drink. While the deer was drinking, a lion that was close by roared very loudly. This frightened the deer and caused it to leap across the river. The deer was pregnant and her baby fell from her womb into the river. Due to her miscarriage and distress, the mother fell onto the bank of the river and died.
Seeing the baby deer floating down the river, Bharata compassionately rescued it and took it back to his shelter. Every day, Bharata would feed and protect the baby deer. Being absorbed in caring for the deer, Bharata gradually became attached to it and neglected his spiritual duties and worship of the Supreme Lord.
Bharata thought to himself, this deer is completely dependent on me for its sustenance and protection. Because it has resorted to me as its shelter, I cannot neglect it. It is important that the civilised human beings protect those who have surrendered to them, even at the expense of their own self-interest. In this way Bharata became attached to the deer and his heart became captivated by affection and would keep it with him while he was sitting, walking, laying down and even eating.
When he would enter the forest to collect firewood and fruit and water, he would always take the deer with him because he was afraid it would be attacked by other animals. He would carry the deer and keep it on his lap, or on his chest, when he slept. He would gain pleasure from patting the animal. Sometimes while he was in the middle of worshipping the Supreme Lord, he would get up to look for the deer and make sure it was safe and comfortable. If he couldn’t see the deer, he would feel great anxiety.
Bharata was thus carried away from his practice of yoga and spiritual activities by his attachment to the deer. This attachment must have been due to his past karma as he had already given up his sons and his kingdom, which was difficult to do, for the sake of his spiritual advancement. Soon enough, the time for the death of King Bharata arrived, and he saw that he had foolishly neglected his own soul for the sake of a baby deer.
At the time of his death Bharata could see the deer sitting beside him grieving his death. Because he was absorbed in thought of the deer, he was born into the body of a deer. Although Bharata was now in the body of a deer, he could remember what had happened to him and the events of his past life.
In the deer’s body, Bharata was tormented with regret and said, What a miserable situation I am now in. I have strayed from the path of self realisation even though I had given up my family and my kingdom to live in a secluded ashram in the forest. I had taken shelter of the Supreme Lord and was constantly engaged in hearing and thinking of him. Then I became attached to a deer and now due to my foolishness I have obtained the body of a deer myself. Bharata stayed in that ashram and ate only dry leaves and waited for his death in the body of a deer. One day while he was bathing in the water in that holy place he left the deer’s body.
After leaving the body of a deer, he took birth as Jada Bharata, the son of a brahmin. Jada Bharata’s father had all the qualities of a brahmin. His senses and mind were controlled and he was educated in the Vedic literature and had knowledge of the self. He was tolerant, contented, compassionate, wise, and never jealous.
Jada Bharata could still remember his previous lives because of the grace of the Lord and he was apprehensive about straying from the path of self realisation again. Always afraid of obstructions on the path of devotion to the Lord, he was careful to avoid any bad association. Although he was always thinking of the Supreme Lord and remembering his qualities and activities, externally he acted as if he was blind, deaf and dim-witted.
His father felt affectionately obligated to teach Jada Bharata all the Vedic regulative principles. But Jada Bharata acted as if he couldn’t understand anything. His father tried his best to teach his son, but Jada Bharata did not succeed in mastering his instructions.
In the course of time, Jada Bharata’s father died and Jada was left in the care of his elder brothers. His brothers considered him a fool and did not recognise his elevated spiritual position. They consequently stopped trying to educate Jada Bharata any further. His brothers neglected him.
Jada Bharata would eat whatever food he was given or acquired by begging whether it was palatable or not. He didn’t eat for the pleasure of his senses because he had ceased to live for any material reason. He was fully absorbed in spiritual consciousness and did not identify himself with the material body.
He only wore a dirty cloth and never covered his body whether it was summer or winter, raining or windy. Because he was always dirty, his spiritual splendour was covered and he was insulted by ignorant people. Because he only wanted food in exchange for his work, his brothers employed him in farming, but he didn’t perform his tasks very well. His brothers only gave him worm eaten rice or burnt rice that had stuck to the pot, but Jada Bharata ate whatever he was offered as if it were nectar.
One day, a gang of thieves came searching for a beastly low class human to offer as a sacrifice to the goddess Kali. They came to the rice field where Jada Bharata was guarding the field against deer and wild pigs. Considering Jada Bharata an appropriate choice for a man-animal sacrifice, they tied him tightly with ropes and took him to the temple of the goddess Kali.
They bathed him, covered him with a new cloth, and decorated him with sandalwood paste and garlands of flowers in preparation for the sacrifice. They fed him well and brought him before the goddess Kali along with offerings of incense, flowers, fruits and other articles of worship. They made Jada Bharata sit before the deity while they played drums and offered prayers to the goddess.
Then they took up a razor sharp sword in preparation for offering Jada Bharata’s blood to the goddess. The thieves possessed a passionate and ignorant nature and they were overcome with a lust for violence. Thus they were prepared to kill Jada Bharata even though he was a brahmin, he had no enemies and he was always engaged in thought of the Supreme Lord.
Understanding that the thieves were about to kill the innocent Jada Bharata, the deity of the goddess Kali broke open and the goddess appeared with an intense spiritual effulgence. The goddess was enraged and unable to tolerate the offensive and criminal behaviour of the thieves. She exhibited a frightening form, with blood red eyes and fierce crooked teeth. She jumped from the altar with a terrifying laugh as if she wanted to destroy the world.
Taking the same blade the thieves wanted to use to kill Jada Bharata, she decapitated the thieves and together with her associates she drank the blood which poured from their necks. She became intoxicated from drinking the blood and began to loudly sing and dance while playing with the heads of the thieves as if they were balls. Jada Bharata knew that the soul is distinct from the body and that he is always protected by the Supreme Lord. Even when he was threatened with decapitation, he knew he had nothing to fear.
Sometime after this, King Rahuguna was travelling to Kapilashrama and required another carrier for his palanquin. He came across Jada Bharata and considered him suitable for the job. Although he was unsuitable for the task, the king forced Jada Bharata to carry his palanquin.
However, due to the non-violent nature of Jada Bharata, he was constantly checking in front of him to avoid stepping on ants. Because of this, he wasn’t walking at the same speed as the other carriers and so the palanquin was being jolted.
King Rahuguna became annoyed and said to his men, Walk together, why are you carrying this palanquin so erratically? The other carriers said to the King, This new man who has been hired to carry the palanquin is not walking smoothly or quickly, so we are unable to perform our work properly.
The King became angry and he sarcastically said to Jada Bharata, What a lot of trouble for you my brother. You must be very tired from having to carry this palanquin alone for such a long way. Your body is obviously not very strong. You must be troubled by old age and it seems your fellow workers are of no help to you. Despite being criticised by the King, Jada Bharata was unaffected. He remained silent and continued carrying the palanquin as before.
When the King’s palanquin continued to be carried unevenly, he became very angry and said to Jada Bharata, You fool, are you a living corpse? Why are you ignoring my orders? I will punish you so you will come to your senses and understand that I am your master! Under the influence of passion and ignorance, King Rahuguna scolded Jada Bharata. However, Jada Bharata was free of pride and a friend to all living beings, and he smiled slightly as he spoke to the King.
Jada Bharata said, Your sarcastic words could certainly be considered truthful if I was not different from the body. While the body is indeed the carrier, this body is different to me, because I am the soul residing with this body. Being strong or weak, fat or skinny, old or young, hungry, thirsty, fearful or angry are all qualities of the body. Those who believe they are the body are affected by these things, but for me these things are not reality.
You have called me a living corpse and this is indeed true because the body is destined to die. You think that you are my master, but this is not true because it relates only to the body and is therefore only temporary. The distinction between master and servant comes only from custom. However, if you consider yourself the master, you may order me and tell me what I should do for you. You have assumed that I was a fool and by punishing me, you will bring me to my senses. But if I am indeed a crazy and stupid person then what purpose will punishment serve? How can you cure a madman by punishing him?
Jada Bharata did not consider himself an elevated soul and accepted that the things happening to him were due to his past karma. He thought that by carrying the palanquin he was removing his acquired karma. After he calmly and peacefully responded to the King’s harsh words, Jada Bharata continued carrying the palanquin.
King Rahuguna had faith in discussions relating to the absolute truth. Because he possessed this qualification, Jada Bharata’s truthful words destroyed his bodily conception of himself as the master. The king quickly got down from his palanquin and bowed at Jada Bharata’s feet so he would be excused for his offence.
King Rahuguna said, My dear brahmin, who are you that moves in this world in disguise and wears a sacred thread. Where have you come from and where do you live? Why have you come here? Have you come for our benefit? I do not fear Yamaraja, the lord of death, nor do I fear the trident of Lord Shiva or the thunderbolt of Lord Indra. But I am terrified of offending a brahmin.
You are wandering around like a dull-witted person and your spiritual wisdom is hidden. Please explain the words you have spoken to us, because none of us have been able to comprehend what you have said. You are a wise sage who is aware of the reality of the soul and therefore you are a representative of the Supreme Lord. Please explain to us the best engagement and the true shelter in this material world.
Are you travelling through the world observing people without revealing your real identity? Although I am very attached to material life and family matters, please instruct me how I can progress in spiritual awareness. Although you claim to be unaffected by fatigue, due to your body when you are carrying the palanquin, there is certainly fatigue. You have also said that the designations of master and servant are temporary, yet they also exist.
You have also said that bodily characteristics like old and young, fat and thin are not qualities of the soul. But just as when a cooking pot is heated the rice will cook due to its connection with the heat, in the same way, the soul is affected by the body’s pleasure and pain due to its connection with the senses and the mind.
And although it is true that the position of king and servant is not eternal, it is the duty of a king to govern the citizens and ensure they conform to the laws. By punishing even those people who are deaf and dull, a king is engaging in his prescribed duties and thereby worshipping the Supreme Lord by his activities. He is therefore released from all kinds of karma. Your words seem incongruous to me. Please excuse my proud and arrogant attitude and forgive me for offending you. Kindly show me your mercy as a friend to the distressed.
Jada Bharata said to the king, Although you use the words of a learned man, you are saying ignorant things. You don’t speak of the nature of reality but only mundane social behaviour. These are all superficial material activities and the wise never speak of these things.
Those people who concern themselves only with talks of material relationships and material rituals and activities do not display spiritual development. Although they are familiar with the words of the Vedas, the true purpose of the Vedas is unknown to them. Worldly happiness is like a dream that one eventually realises to be false and not real.
If one’s mind is under the control of the modes of material nature, any actions, pious or impious simply increase one’s material attachment through the use of the senses. The mind absorbed in material actions is attached to material happiness and sensual enjoyment. The mind therefore causes the soul to take birth in many different bodies according to its desires and perceptions.
The mind embraces the material nature and causes the living being to enjoy and suffer continued material actions and reactions. For this reason, the wise speak of the mind as the cause of the living being wandering in the material world in different species of life. The mind absorbed in material activities is like the wick of a lamp burning poorly. The lamp becomes blackened and smoke is produced. However when the mind is detached from sensual activities it is like a lamp burning properly and illumination is produced.
Smell, form, touch, taste and sound, are the objects of the senses from which one acquires knowledge. Speech, movement, sexual intercourse, evacuation, and travelling are the activities of the working senses. There is also the false conception by which the mind has the perception of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’. Wise men consider all these to be the sphere of action for the activities of the mind.
The material elements, nature, karma, lifestyle, and time are the material causes of all these activities of the mind. They are modified into hundreds, thousands and millions of activities. These changes arise under the control of the Supreme Lord and not their own power. These are all activities of the mind that are continuously being created by the material energy. While awake, these activities sometimes appear and during sleep, they may not be displayed. Those who are free from material illusion are aware of this.
The Supreme Lord is the cause of creation and he pervades everything. He is independent, unborn and the shelter of all living beings. He is the reservoir of consciousness and the supreme controller. He is present within the hearts of all living beings, controlling everyone’s activities.
Until the soul gains freedom from the contamination and attachment of the material mind and senses, he must wander through different species of life in the material world. The mind is the cause of the miseries of disease, illusion, grief, hatred, greed and attachment. Those who are unaware of this must reside in the material world.
The mind is a formidable and powerful enemy and one should not neglect to control it. One should always try to control the mind by worship of the spiritual teacher and the Supreme Lord, for in this way one can conquer the illusory perceptions of the mind that have covered the soul.
King Rahuguna said, I offer my respects to you, for you are the embodiment of the Supreme Lord. Disguising yourself, you have hidden your spiritual position. I have been bitten by the serpent of pride and your words are the antidote for my material disease. The nectar of your instruction is like cool water for someone who has been scorched by the sun.
I am very curious to understand your teachings about self-realisation. Please explain them to me in simple words so I may comprehend them more clearly. I do not understand how the fatigue that can be directly perceived by moving the body does not actually exist.
Jada Bharata said, The material body is made of the transformation of various material elements. Some of these forms are feet, ankles, knees shoulders, neck and head. On those shoulders rests a palanquin and the body of a king. All these elements are only a transformation of material elements, yet you are residing within that body and are captivated by the illusory conception that you are the king. You have forced these people to suffer in order to carry your palanquin under the pretext that you are engaged in protecting the citizens. This is cruel and foolish behaviour and would not gain you any respect in a society of the wise.
All the moving and non-moving living entities on the earth are simply in different forms. We are all born out of the earth and eventually our bodies disappear and are absorbed back into the earth. All the different bodies are only different functions and products of the material elements. In order to deal with such a situation factually, we should consider the cause of all these material activities and transformations. The varieties of nature come from the earth itself. They are created from atomic particles, yet these particles are temporary. Although the material world appears to be real, eventually it will cease to exist.
All the different forms within the material universe, whether fat, skinny, big, small or inanimate are all temporary phenomena. The different forms are named differently according to their disposition, substance, time and activity. You should understand that they are all created by the duality of material nature and ultimately they do not really exist.
The absolute truth is non-dual and transcendental to material qualities. This is known as spirit. On a higher level of awareness, one can realise that absolute truth as the supreme soul within all living beings. Higher still is the complete realisation of the absolute truth as the supreme person, Bhagavan who is the cause of everything.
It is not possible to realise the absolute truth by austerity, deity worship or following rituals and regulations. The absolute truth is only revealed to those who have covered their entire body with the dust from the feet of the exalted souls. Exalted souls are those who have put an end to their material concerns and only discuss the qualities and activities of the Supreme Lord. By means of association with those great souls, one can destroy the material illusion with the sword of knowledge. By hearing and speaking of the activities and qualities of the Supreme Lord, you can regain your lost consciousness and achieve the spiritual abode.
King Rahuguna said, Birth as a human being is the most exalted position because in a human body we can associate with saints like you whose hearts have been purified by love and devotion to the Supreme Lord. I have associated with you for a short time, yet I have been liberated from the false prestige and illusion which have caused my bondage in this material world. Let us all worship such great saints wherever and in whatever form they appear in this world and let us bow down before them all. By their grace there will be good fortune for everyone.
After hearing the instructions of Jada Bharata, King Rahuguna came to a full understanding of the position of the soul and was freed from the bodily conception. Anyone who hears and narrates this story of King Bharata will receive all blessings possible. Hearing about the lives of the great saints will fulfil all one’s material and spiritual desires.
