Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
Bharata Mahārāja’s Ideal Kingship and His Transition from Yajña to Exclusive Bhakti at Pulahāśrama
एवं वर्षायुतसहस्रपर्यन्तावसितकर्मनिर्वाणावसरोऽधिभुज्यमानं स्वतनयेभ्यो रिक्थं पितृपैतामहं यथादायं विभज्य स्वयं सकलसम्पन्निकेतात्स्वनिकेतात् पुलहाश्रमं प्रवव्राज ॥ ८ ॥
evaṁ varṣāyuta-sahasra-paryantāvasita-karma-nirvāṇāvasaro ’dhibhujyamānaṁ sva-tanayebhyo rikthaṁ pitṛ-paitāmahaṁ yathā-dāyaṁ vibhajya svayaṁ sakala-sampan-niketāt sva-niketāt pulahāśramaṁ pravavrāja.
Ainsi, lorsque s’acheva le temps fixé pour jouir de l’opulence —mille fois dix mille ans—, le roi Bharata se retira de la vie familiale. Il partagea entre ses fils, comme il convenait, l’héritage des ancêtres, puis quitta sa demeure, réservoir de toutes richesses, et se mit en route vers Pulahāśrama (à Hardwar).
According to the law of dāya-bhāk, when one inherits an estate he must hand it over to the next generation. Bharata Mahārāja did this properly. First he enjoyed his paternal property for one thousand times ten thousand years. At the time of his retirement, he divided this property among his sons and left for Pulaha-āśrama.
FAQs
This verse shows Bharata Mahārāja completing his prescribed responsibilities, properly handing over the kingdom to his sons, and then leaving home for Pulahāśrama—illustrating timely renunciation grounded in dharma.
Having reached the appropriate stage for liberation, he withdrew from royal life and went to Pulahāśrama, a sacred hermitage conducive to austerity, contemplation, and spiritual practice.
Fulfill responsibilities ethically (family, work, society), arrange a responsible transition of duties, and intentionally create space for deeper spiritual practice and detachment as life progresses.