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the most excellent qualities and virtues, and that he would obtain salvation in that very life. Yasasvati was overwhelmed with joy, on hearing the above description of her coming son from her illustrious Husband.
In the fullness of time a son was born to her, on the same day as that on which Bhagwan Rișabha Devaji Himself was born (namely, on the ninth of the dark half of the month of Chaitra), when the moon was in the Uttaraṣādha constellation. Risabha Deva called his name Bharata. Bharata was one of the ahamindra-companions of Sri Risabha Deva in the Super-heaven Sarvārthasiddhi. His previous history from the time when he was Mativara, the minister of Bajrajangha, is already known. But a few lives earlier he was. one Atigridha, who was the king of Vatsakāvati in the East Videha of the Jambu Dvipa. He was given to much sense-indulgence, and died with raudra dhyāna (immersed in highly evil thoughts). He found himself cast into the fourth hell. There he remained for a very very long time, and then became a lion. One day he saw the Saint Pihitāsrava, whose sight brought back to him the knowledge of his past. He was filled with dismay, and at once sobered down by the knowledge, and resolved to desist from evil, from that. moment. He gave up all food at once, and resolv
