Adhiratha-Rādhā Discover the Casket; Vasuṣeṇa (Karṇa) is Adopted and Formed
स तत्र मलदिग्धाड़ंं भरतं चीरवाससम्
sa tatra maladigdhāḍaṃ bharataṃ cīravāsasam
அங்கே அவன் பரதனை கண்டான்—உடல் அழுக்கால் மாசுபட்டது, தூசியால் மங்கியது, மரப்பட்டை ஆடைகள் அணிந்தவன்।
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
The verse highlights tapas and renunciation: outward hardship (dirt-smeared body, bark-cloth) signifies a deliberate turning away from luxury toward discipline and inner purification, aligning one’s life with dharma rather than comfort.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a scene in which Bharata is seen in an ascetic condition—grime-covered and wearing bark garments—indicating that Bharata is living a life of austerity in the wilderness or in renunciant practice.