The Puranic Account: The Cycle of Attachment
In the Bhagavata Purana, the story of King Bharatha is used as a profound cautionary tale regarding Vairagya (detachment).
- The Royal Instruction: Lord Rishabha (an avatar of Vishnu) instructs his 100 sons to follow their eldest brother, Bharatha, establishing him as a virtuous Chakravarti.
- The Fall (The Deer Story): After a successful reign, Bharatha retires to the forest (Pulahashrama) to meditate. However, he rescues a fawn and becomes so emotionally consumed by its well-being that he forgets his spiritual goals.
- The Rebirths: Because of his final thoughts, he is reborn as a deer, though he miraculously retains the memory of his past life and his mistakes. Reborn as a human, he pretends to be “Jada” (dull/insensate) to avoid any social attachments. He eventually delivers a famous discourse on the soul to King Rahugana and attains Moksha (liberation).
The Jain Account: Power vs. Renunciation
In Jainism, Lord Rishabha is the Adinatha (First Tirthankara). The narrative found in the Adi Purana (and Pampa’s Kannada adaptation) focuses on the struggle for worldly supremacy.
- The Conflict: King Bharatha seeks to unite the world under his Chakra (divine wheel). All his brothers submit except Bahubali, leading to a direct confrontation.
- The Unique Duel: To avoid a bloody war between armies, the brothers engage in three non-lethal contests: Drishti-yuddha (staring), Jala-yuddha (water-splashing), and Malla-yuddha (wrestling).
- Bahubali’s Enlightenment: Bahubali wins all three. However, at the moment of victory, he realizes the futility of pride and the greed for land. He renounces his kingdom on the spot, stands in deep meditation for a year (becoming the famous statue at Shravanabelagola), and attains Kevala Jnana (omniscience).
- Bharatha’s Legacy: Bharatha continues to rule as a Chakravarti but eventually follows the path of his father and brother, becoming a monk in his later years.
Summary of the Name “Bharatha-varsha”
Both traditions agree that this specific King Bharatha was so influential that the subcontinent was named Bharatha-varsha in his honor. While the next article will discuss the other famous Bharatha (the ancestor of the Pandavas), this King Bharatha remains the primary figure linked to the land’s spiritual identity in most Puranic and Jain texts.
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe