Shloka 3

भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः

Devanagari script

यत् तु तद् भगवान् आह भरतस्य महीपतेः कथयिष्यामि चरितं तन् ममाख्यातुम् अर्हसि

Transliteration

yat tu tad bhagavān āha bharatasya mahīpateḥ kathayiṣyāmi caritaṃ tan mamākhyātum arhasi

Translation

Now I shall recount what the Blessed One declared regarding Bharata, the lord of the earth. I will narrate his life and deeds; therefore deem me fit to relate it.

Word by Word

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• tu: but, however
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक निपात (but/indeed)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (अह्/आह् धातु; perfect of √ah)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bharatasya: of Bharata
• bharatasya: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन

• mahīpateḥ: of the king (lord of the earth)
• mahīpateḥ: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; समास (महीनां पतिः)

• kathayiṣyāmi: I will narrate
• kathayiṣyāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathay (कथय् धातु, णिजन्त from kathā)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• caritam: deed(s), life-story
• caritam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (चर् धातु + क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिकरूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mama: my
• mama: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन

• ākhyātum: to tell, to explain
• ākhyātum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-khyā (आख्या/ख्यै धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• arhasi: you should/are fit to
• arhasi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya in the frame dialogue)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transition from cosmography to the narrative of King Bharata as taught by the Blessed One; request/permission to narrate.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Yoga and devotion in kingship

Key Kings: Bharata

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (king)
• Bhagavān (revered authority referenced as the prior speaker)

FAQs

What is the significance of Bharata’s story in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse signals a formal transition into Bharata’s carita, treating his kingship as a key example within the Purana’s genealogical history and dharma-centered model of sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara structure the teaching for Maitreya here?

Parāśara frames the account as an authorized retelling of what a revered source previously stated, then asks for Maitreya’s assent—reinforcing the guru–disciple transmission and narrative reliability.

What is the theological importance of “Bhagavān” in this context?

“Bhagavān” marks the statement as grounded in supreme or sanctified authority; within the Vishnu Purana’s Vaishnava worldview, such authority ultimately aligns with Vishnu’s sovereignty guiding history and dharma.