Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Jaḍa Bharata’s Birth, Feigned Madness, and Protection by Goddess Kālī
श्रीशुक उवाच अथ कस्यचिद् द्विजवरस्याङ्गिर:प्रवरस्य शमदमतप:स्वाध्यायाध्ययनत्यागसन्तोषतितिक्षाप्रश्रयविद्यानसूयात्मज्ञानानन्दयुक्तस्यात्मसदृशश्रुतशीलाचाररूपौदार्यगुणा नव सोदर्या अङ्गजा बभूवुर्मिथुनं च यवीयस्यां भार्यायाम् ॥ १ ॥ यस्तु तत्र पुमांस्तं परमभागवतं राजर्षिप्रवरं भरतमुत्सृष्टमृगशरीरं चरमशरीरेण विप्रत्वं गतमाहु: ॥ २ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca atha kasyacid dvija-varasyāṅgiraḥ-pravarasya śama-dama-tapaḥ-svādhyāyādhyayana-tyāga-santoṣa-titikṣā-praśraya-vidyānasūyātma-jñānānanda-yuktasyātma-sadṛśa-śruta-śīlācāra-rūpaudārya-guṇā nava sodaryā aṅgajā babhūvur mithunaṁ ca yavīyasyāṁ bhāryāyām yas tu tatra pumāṁs taṁ parama-bhāgavataṁ rājarṣi-pravaraṁ bharatam utsṛṣṭa-mṛga-śarīraṁ carama-śarīreṇa vipratvaṁ gatam āhuḥ.
圣者舒迦提婆·高斯瓦弥继续说道：舍弃鹿身之后，至上奉爱者婆罗多大王投生于极其清净的婆罗门家族。有一位出自安吉罗族系的婆罗门，具足婆罗门德行：能制心摄根，勤修苦行，行自学并研习吠陀，乐于布施，常怀知足，能忍耐，性情柔和，博学无嫉，证悟自我并具内在喜乐；他恒常沉浸于对主的奉爱服务。其第一位妻子生九子，皆同等贤善；第二位妻子生一对双生——一子一女。据说那男孩便是至上奉爱者、诸圣王中最卓越者婆罗多：他舍鹿身而以最后之身得婆罗门之生。
Bharata Mahārāja was a great devotee, but he did not attain success in one life. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that a devotee who does not fulfill his devotional duties in one life is given the chance to be born in a fully qualified brāhmaṇa family or a rich kṣatriya or vaiśya family. Śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe ( Bg. 6.41 ). Bharata Mahārāja was the firstborn son of Mahārāja Ṛṣabha in a rich kṣatriya family, but due to his willful negligence of his spiritual duties and his excessive attachment to an insignificant deer, he was obliged to take birth as the son of a deer. However, due to his strong position as a devotee, he was gifted with the remembrance of his past life. Being repentant, he remained in a solitary forest and always thought of Kṛṣṇa. Then he was given the chance to take birth in a very good brāhmaṇa family.
FAQs
This verse highlights śama (peace), dama (sense-control), tapaḥ (austerity), svādhyāya (scriptural study), tyāga (renunciation), santoṣa (contentment), titikṣā (tolerance), humility, learning, non-enviousness, and the joy of self-knowledge.
He establishes the spiritually refined family setting that produced extraordinary sons—setting the stage for the appearance of the great devotee Bharata/Jaḍa Bharata and the lesson of devotion beyond social appearance.
By cultivating daily discipline (study and restraint), adopting contentment and tolerance in relationships, practicing humility, and aiming for inner realization rather than external status.