Learning from the three lives of the great King Bharata

The purpose of Bharata going to forest was……………………………

• To meditate and merge into the impersonal light

• To renounce everything that is dear to one’s heart – his queen, family and vast empire

• To pursue his spiritual career by worshipping Supreme Lord to attain love of God

• To take a break from the stress and struggle arising in Kingly life

Bharata lifted the helplessly floating deer from the water and brought it to his ashram because,

• he was self-realised to see all living beings as spirit souls, children of God

• it would be valuable to have a pet and have sweet relations for a change in the dry jungle

• it is natural for any saintly person to feet compassion for suffering souls

• its mother doe had died leaving the child doe as an orphan

What is your opinion about Bharata’s care for the deer?

• It is wonderful; anyone in this world should learn from Bharata how to treat our pets

• His care aroused material attachment to deer, making him get distracted from spiritual life

• Caring for the deer was perfect, but not worthy at the cost of his spiritual life

• It was a big mistake on the part of Bharata to have brought the deer to ashram

What is your opinion about TV, movies, Smartphones and media use in modern times?

• People are becoming personal; keep limited use and enjoy life with friends and family

• I’ll not let them distract me from spiritual life as deer distracted Bharat; I’ll use them with caution and care in Lord’s service and for my academics, not for spoiling my life.

• They are a great boon to modern youth, as they’ve boosted our entertainment to great level

• They ruin our academics due to overuse; I’ll carefully use them and focus on spiritual life

We have given some examples of material situations that preoccupy one, pushing spiritual life to back. Which of the ones do you feel that you can forego to ensure your spiritual life is intact?

• Watching movies, video games, surfing internet, playing guitar

• early morning sleep

• sleeping in the afternoon, relaxing on a holiday, chatting with friends

• playing cricket, going out with friends, performing exercises or jogging

Can you suggest a corrective action for Bharata’s behavior?

• He can’t do both; either take care of deer or meditate on God; let him choose one

• Reduce attachment to deer by putting spiritual life first, deer next; get help by association

• If with deer, his spiritual life is affected, he could let it go with other deers, as it is big now

• He has not come to forest for cultivating relation with a deer; I’ll say throw away the deer

What is law of last thought and absorption according to Bhagavad gita 8.5 and 8.6?

• Whatever state of mind we have while quitting body at death, we attain that state

• We get what we’re looking for – sense gratification or Krishna; make wise choice

• Our mental state during life brings about positive or negative or spiritual thoughts at death

• Law of last thought is the grateful thoughts one gets for relatives at the time of death are the real essence of life and a person who gets such feelings of gratitude is a success in life.

If death comes to you the next moment, what body do you feel you might get?

After occupying the body of a deer, how do you know that Bharata was serious about going back to Godhead?

• His austerities of not eating succulent grass, avoiding bad company and aspiring for saintly association proves it.

• His lamentation over the past mistake and resolve to stick to serious spiritual life proves it

• His prayer to Supreme Lord at the end of life shows that he has led life in God consciousness

• His carefulness never to forget the Supreme Lord in all circumstances.

Why did Jada Bharata not want to become a Vedic scholar?

• He thought it is very time consuming to study all the four Vedas

• He was dull, blind, and deaf and thus could not be trained in Vedas

• His goal was not to become a learned scholar, but to be a devotee of Supreme Lord

• Vedic followers often become caught up in ritualistic procedures forgetting Supreme Lord