Compendium of Jainism

Author(s): T K Tukol, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Prasaranga Karnatak University Dharwar

Page 23

JAINISM AND ITS ANTIQUITY
11
ऋषभात भरतो जज्ञे ज्येष्ठः पुत्रः शताग्रजः । ततश्च भातं वर्षमेतल्लोकेषु गीयते ।।
विष्णुपुराण Rşabhāt Bharato jajñe jyesthaḥ putrah satāgrajaḥ | Tataśca bhāratam varsam etallokeșu giyate ||
This means “Bharata was born of Rşabha. He was the eldest amongst the hundred broihers; it is from his time that this land is known as Bhārata in the world.” In the fifth chapter of the fifth part of Bhāgavata Purāaņa it is stated :
'भगवान् वृषभदेवः उपशमशीलानां उपरतकर्मणां महामनीनां भक्तिज्ञानवैराग्यलक्षणं परमहंसधर्म उपशिक्षमाणः स्वतनयज्येष्ठं भरतं धरणीपालनाय अभिषिच्य स्वयं उर्वरितशरीरमात्रपरिग्रहः प्रवरवाज'
भागवतपुराण स्कंध ५ अध्याय ५
“Bhagavān vịşabhadevah upaśamasilāmān uparatakarmaņām mahā-muninām bhaktijnānavairāgyalakṣaṇam paramabaisadharınam upaśikṣamāṇaḥ.
svatanayajyestham bharatam dharani-pālanāya abbișicya syayam urvaritaśarira-mātra-parigrahaḥ pravarayrāja." This means that “Bhagavān Rşabha seated his son Bharata, who was well-versed in religion and was devoutly inclined towards the ascetics through his signs of devotion and renunciation, on the throne for ruling over the earth and renounced the world.”
This theory that India came to be koown as Bhārata after the eldest son of Bhagavãn Rşabha Deva who ruled over the country is contradicted by some scholars who assert that it is Bharata the son of Duşyanta and Sakuntalā that is entitled to the honour. It cannot be disputed that Dușyanta was a king of later date and brought into prominence by the drama named Sakuntală by Kālidåsa.