WorksheetsLearning from the three lives of the great King Bharata
Total questions: 11
Worksheet time: 24mins
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
Why did Jada Bharata not protest when his brothers insulted him?
He was completely liberated from bodily concept of life
They were nine stepbrothers and he was single and it was better for him not to protest
He did not want to be distracted this time by anything as it happened in earlier life as Bharata
By tolerating insults in life, Jada Bharata knew that wages and food will get better over time
