Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 5 Chapter 7:1-7

Book 5: Chapter 7

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 5: Chapter 7: Verses 1-7
The story of Bharata

Sri Suka began again : When Bharata, who was a great devotee of the Lord, was mentally appointed by Lord Rsabhadeva (before He retired to the woods) to the rulership of the earth (the kingdom of his father), he married Pancajani, a daughter of Viswarupa, intent as he was on obeying the command of the Lord. Even as Ahankara (the source of the subtle elements) begets the five subtle elements, he (too) begot through her five sons-Sumati, Rastrabhrt, Sudarsana, Avarana and Dhumraketu by name-who were entirely after him. It is from his time that they call this Varsa (subdivision of Jambudwipa)--(heretofore) known by the name of Ajanabha-as Bharata. Remaining devoted to his duty like his father (Lord Rsabha) and grandfather (king Nabhi), the said monarch, who possessed an extensive knowledge and was extremely fond of his subjects, duly protected the people, who (strictly) adhered each to his prescribed duty. He also worshipped, with (due) reverence at the appointed hours, the Lord appearing (both) in the form of Yajras (sacrificial performances conducted without the Yupa or sacrificial post) and Kratus (those distinguished by the presence of such a post) through sacred rites (both) big and small-in the form of Agnihotra, Darsa, Purnamasa, Caturmasya and Pasusoma of both kinds-those complete in every detail and those lacking in some particular-undertaken under proper authority and performed with the co-operation of four officiating priests (viz., a Hota, an Adhwaryu, an Udgata and a Brahma[1]).

When the various sacrificial performances were duly carried on with special attention to all supplementary rites, and when the Adhwaryus took the oblations (in their hands in order to pour them into the sacred fire), the said sacrificer (Emperor Bharata), mentally offered the reward, which was expected from a particular sacrifice, in the form of a virtue known by the name of Dharma (religious merit), entirely to Lord Vasudeva, the transcendent Reality and the Supreme Deity, who is not only the Soul of sacrifices but their actual doer too, being the Ruler of the gods represented by the several Mantras (sacred texts) symbolic of the different deities. And his passions (in the form of likes and dislikes) having been attenuated by his sagacity (in offering the fruit to the Lord), he contemplated on the deities enjoying a share in the sacrificial offering as so many limbs of (rather than as so distinct from) the Supreme Person. When his mind was thus thoroughly purified through the extreme purity of his actions, there arose (in his heart) loving devotion-which grew exceptionally intense everyday to Lord Vasudeva, the transcendent Reality, appearing in the space within his heart in the form of the Supreme Person (Bhagavan Narayana), distinguished by the mark of Srivatsa (the foot-print of Bhrgu), the gem known by the name of Kaustubha, a wreath of sylvan flowers, a discus, a mace and so on, nay, remaining immovable like a portrait in the heart of his devotees and shining brightly in his own mind as the Inner Controller.

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References

  1. The duties of ail these have been mentioned in the footnote on). iv. 19.

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