Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1

Bharata Mahārāja’s Ideal Kingship and His Transition from Yajña to Exclusive Bhakti at Pulahāśrama

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच भरतस्तु महाभागवतो यदा भगवतावनितलपरिपालनाय सञ्चिन्तितस्तदनुशासनपर: पञ्चजनीं विश्वरूपदुहितरमुपयेमे ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca bharatas tu mahā-bhāgavato yadā bhagavatāvani-tala-paripālanāya sañcintitas tad-anuśāsana-paraḥ pañcajanīṁ viśvarūpa-duhitaram upayeme.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued speaking to Mahārāja Parīkṣit: My dear King, Bharata Mahārāja was a topmost devotee. Following the orders of his father, who had already decided to install him on the throne, he began to rule the earth accordingly. When Bharata Mahārāja ruled the entire globe, he followed the orders of his father and married Pañcajanī, the daughter of Viśvarūpa.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• महा-भागवतः: a great devotee
• महा-भागवतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (भरतः)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (when)

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• अवनि-तल-परिपालनाय: for the protection of the earth’s surface
• अवनि-तल-परिपालनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवनि (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + परिपालन (कृदन्त; परि-पाल् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)

• सञ्चिन्तितः: was appointed/considered
• सञ्चिन्तितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सञ्चिन्तित (कृदन्त; सम्-चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (considered/appointed)

• तत्-अनुशासन-परः: devoted to his command
• तत्-अनुशासन-परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनुशासन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (भरतः) ‘devoted to his instruction’

• पञ्चजनीम्: Pañcajanī (name)
• पञ्चजनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विश्व-रूप-दुहितरम्: the daughter of Viśvarūpa
• विश्व-रूप-दुहितरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘daughter of Viśvarūpa’

• उपयेमे: married
• उपयेमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘married/took as wife’

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (Maharaja)
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)
• Pañcajanī
• Viśvarūpa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how a king should rule (rajadharma)?

This verse shows that rulership is a divine responsibility: Bharata is chosen by the Lord to protect the earth and rules by becoming devoted to the Lord’s instructions, not by personal ambition.

Why did Bharata Maharaja marry Pañcajanī in Canto 5?

After being appointed to govern the earth, Bharata accepted Pañcajanī, the daughter of Viśvarūpa, as his wife—indicating a lawful, dharmic household life aligned with duty and the Lord’s plan.

How can I apply ‘following the Lord’s instructions’ in modern life?

Take guidance from śāstra and saintly teachers, perform your duties responsibly, and keep devotional obedience—placing God’s will and dharma above ego-driven choices.