Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 11
Bharata Mahārāja’s Ideal Kingship and His Transition from Yajña to Exclusive Bhakti at Pulahāśrama
तस्मिन् वाव किल स एकल: पुलहाश्रमोपवने विविधकुसुमकिसलयतुलसिकाम्बुभि: कन्दमूलफलोपहारैश्च समीहमानो भगवत आराधनं विविक्त उपरतविषयाभिलाष उपभृतोपशम: परां निर्वृतिमवाप ॥ ११ ॥
tasmin vāva kila sa ekalaḥ pulahāśramopavane vividha-kusuma-kisalaya-tulasikāmbubhiḥ kanda-mūla-phalopahāraiś ca samīhamāno bhagavata ārādhanaṁ vivikta uparata-viṣayābhilāṣa upabhṛtopaśamaḥ parāṁ nirvṛtim avāpa.
In den Gärten von Pulahāśrama lebte König Bharata allein. Er sammelte vielfältige Blumen, zarte Triebe und Tulasī-Blätter, Wasser aus dem Fluss Cakra-nadī sowie Wurzeln, Früchte und Knollen und brachte dies Bhagavān Vāsudeva als Opfer dar, indem er Ihn in Abgeschiedenheit verehrte. Jeder Wunsch nach materiellem Genuss erlosch; sein Geist wurde völlig beruhigt, und fest in Bhakti gegründet erlangte er höchste Zufriedenheit.
Everyone is searching after peace of mind. This is obtainable only when one is completely freed from the desire for material sense gratification and is engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā: patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati . Worship of the Lord is not at all expensive. One can offer the Lord a leaf, a flower, a little fruit and some water. The Supreme Lord accepts these offerings when they are offered with love and devotion. In this way, one can become freed from material desires. As long as one maintains material desires, he cannot be happy. As soon as one engages in the devotional service of the Lord, his mind is purified of all material desires. Then one becomes fully satisfied.
FAQs
This verse shows that sincere ārādhana of Bhagavān can be performed with simple, pure offerings—flowers, tender leaves, tulasī, water, and fruits—when done with devotion and a secluded, focused mind.
Śukadeva highlights Bharata’s renunciation and single-pointed devotion: he chose seclusion to withdraw from sense-desires and to deepen peaceful worship of the Lord.
Create daily quiet time for bhakti—reduce distractions, simplify needs, offer what you have with sincerity (like tulasī and water), and cultivate inner calm through steady devotional practice.