The Dispassionate One

Jada Bharatha was indifference personified. The memory of his past birth as an emperor whose spiritual achievements were marred by his obsessive attachment to another being, and had resulted in his being born an animal in his previous birth, chastened him. Wary of falling into a quagmire of familial bonds, affection and longing, he remained uninvolved with his family and society.

This total lack of engagement with the world led people to believe that he was lacking in intelligence and understanding, and they treated him disparagingly. Bharatha was however unperturbed by people’s opinions and behaviour.

As he grew older, he was least concerned about the kind of work that was demanded of him or the quality of food that he was doled out. After his parent’s demise, his step-brothers fed him left-overs and gave him menial jobs.

Bharatha was robust (despite being fed left-overs) and was hired by all and sundry for hard labour. An apathetic Bharatha wordlessly accepted every task he was given.

The Sacrifice

A famous story of Jada Bharatha goes like this… Praying for the birth of a son, a dacoit wanted to sacrifice an animal to appease the goddess Bhadrakali. When the sacrificial animal went missing, the band of dacoits found Bharatha and decided that he was animal-like, and could replace the sacrificial animal. Dressing him up and feeding him well, they readied him for the offering. Bharatha who harboured no sense of identity with his body (deha-abhimaana) calmly went through the process.

As the dacoit raised his sword to behead Bharatha, the fierce goddess Bhadrakali, is said to have emerged from the idol, in order to save the enlightened devotee of the Lord. Even as she beheaded the dacoit and his band, her attendants satisfied themselves with their blood.

The Palanquin-bearer

Once, the king of Sindhu and Sauvira, Raghugana, was on his way to seek an audience with rishi Kapila. Owing to circumstances, there arose a need for an extra palanquin bearer. The strong-limbed Bharatha was spotted and roped in for the task. In those days, when the varnaashrama - dharma was strictly followed, it was considered a sin for a Kshatriya to be served by a Brahmin. But Bharatha (a brahmin), with his characteristic indifference, shouldered the palanquin of king Raghugana (a kshatriya).

While the other bearers walked in tandem, Bharatha walked most unsteadily, taking great care to not step on any insect on the ground. This caused the palanquin to roll, and the bumpy ride greatly irked the king. The other bearers hastened to let the king know that it was the new bearer who was to blame. The king spoke with sarcasm. He said, “What’s wrong with this new bearer? He appears to be brawny.* He must be tired by carrying a heavy burden!”

*in some accounts, the word used is skinny!

Bharatha continued to walk, as unsteadily as before.

The king became extremely angry. He yelled at Bharatha, “I order you to walk properly and carry me steadily!” Full of himself, he added pompously, “I, am the king of Sindhu and Sauvira. I will punish those who disobey me. How dare you displease me?"

Bharatha, once an emperor served by hundreds of such Raghuganas, now bearing a palanquin, paused …and turned to face king Raghugana.

To be continued…