Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

अजनाभं नामैतद्वर्षं भारतमिति यत आरभ्य व्यपदिशन्ति ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

ajanābhaṁ nāmaitad varṣaṁ bhāratam iti yata ārabhya vyapadiśanti.

Translation

Früher war dieses Land als Ajanābha-varṣa bekannt; doch seit dem Beginn der Herrschaft Mahārāja Bharatas nennt man es Bhārata-varṣa.

Synonyms

• अजनाभम्: Ajanābha
• अजनाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; नाम (proper name)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Discourse marker (नाम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः निपातवत् (indeclinable ‘by name’)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (वर्षम्)

• वर्षम्: region/land (varṣa)
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• भारतम्: Bhārata
• भारतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम (proper name)

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपातः (quotative)

• यतः: from which (time)
• यतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे/सम्बन्धे प्रयुक्तः ‘यतः’ (from which/wherefrom), अव्ययवत्

• आरभ्य: starting from
• आरभ्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having begun/from (starting)’, धातुः—रभ् (आरम्भे)

• व्यपदिशन्ति: they designate/call
• व्यपदिशन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः—दिश् (निर्देशे/नामकरणे)

Purport

This planet was formerly known as Ajanābha because of the reign of King Nābhi. After Bharata Mahārāja ruled the planet, it became celebrated as Bhārata-varṣa.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata

FAQs

Why is India called Bharata-varsha in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that the land was earlier called Ajanābha-varṣa, but from the time of King Bharata it became famous as Bhārata-varṣa.

Who is speaking this verse about Ajanābha-varṣa and Bhārata-varṣa?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is describing the historical naming of the region while narrating Bharata Mahārāja’s account to King Parīkṣit.

What is the practical takeaway of this verse for modern readers?

It reminds us that places gain sacred identity through the lives and character of saintly leaders—encouraging us to uphold dharma and devotion so our own society becomes spiritually meaningful.