Canto 5: The Creative Impetus
SB5.7

Canto 5 · Chapter 7 · 14 verses · 1 story

The Activities of King Bharata

Bharata rules faithfully, worships the Supreme Lord, and retires to deepen his devotional service.

Read on Vedabase
Connected storiesViśvarūpaAmbarīṣa Mahārāja
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

In this chapter, the activities of King Bharata Mahārāja, the emperor of the whole world, are described. Bharata Mahārāja performed various ritualistic ceremonies (Vedic yajñas) and satisfied the Supreme Lord by his different modes of worship. In due course of time, he left home and resided in Hardwar and passed his days in devotional activities. Being ordered by his father, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, Bharata Mahārāja married Pañcajanī, the daughter of Viśvarūpa. After this, he ruled the whole world peacefully. Formerly this planet was known as Ajanābha, and after the reign of Bharata Mahārāja it became known as Bhārata-varṣa. Bharata Mahārāja begot five sons in the womb of Pañcajanī, and he named the sons Sumati, Rāṣṭrabhṛta, Sudarśana, Āvaraṇa and Dhūmraketu. Bharata Mahārāja was very rigid in executing religious principles and following in the footsteps of his father. He therefore ruled the citizens very successfully. Because he performed various yajñas to satisfy the Supreme Lord, he was personally very satisfied. Being of undisturbed mind, he increased his devotional activities unto Lord Vāsudeva. Bharata Mahārāja was competent in understanding the principles of saintly persons like Nārada, and he followed in the footsteps of the sages. He also kept Lord Vāsudeva constantly within his heart. After finishing his kingly duties, he divided his kingdom among his five sons. He then left home and went to the place of Pulaha known as Pulahāśrama. There he ate forest vegetables and fruits, and worshiped Lord Vāsudeva with everything available. Thus he increased his devotion toward Vāsudeva, and he automatically began to realize further his transcendental, blissful life. Due to his highly advanced spiritual position, there were sometimes visible in his body the aṣṭa-sāttvika transformations, such as ecstatic crying and bodily trembling, which are symptoms of love of Godhead. It is understood that Mahārāja Bharata worshiped the Supreme Lord with the mantras mentioned in the Ṛg Veda, generally known as Gāyatrī mantra, which aim at the Supreme Nārāyaṇa situated within the sun.

In this chapter

Who · Bharata Mahārāja, Pañcajanī, Bharata’s five sons

The story · Following his father Ṛṣabhadeva’s orders, Bharata married Pañcajanī and ruled the world according to religious principles. He performed sacrifices to satisfy the Supreme Lord and constantly kept Vāsudeva within his heart. After completing his royal duties, he divided his kingdom among his five sons and left his opulent home. In retirement, he engaged constantly in devotional service, and his growing love for Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, melted his heart.

What it teaches · Bharata directed both his royal duties and his retired life toward pleasing the Supreme Lord. Constant devotional service increased his love for Kṛṣṇa.

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

What it teaches · Pride in wealth can lead one to neglect the spiritual master and fall into difficulty. The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca prayers seek the Lord’s protection for the intelligence, senses, mind and life air.

When Bharata Mahārāja ruled the entire globe, he followed the orders of his father and married Pañcajanī, the daughter of Viśvarūpa.

Read the story in SB 6.7–8

What it teaches · A devotee finds happiness in serving Kṛṣṇa rather than in wealth or mystic achievements. Ambarīṣa’s humility and compassion extended even to the person who had offended him.

Kings like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and many other rājarṣis who were pure devotees of the Lord simply passed their time in the service of the Supreme Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 5.7.6 (Text 6)
Read the story in SB 9.4–5