Maharishi Śuka continued, “Emperor Bharata proceeded on a tour to conquer the world. During this tour he killed all the Yavanas, Kirātas, Hūnās, Andrās, Kankās, Khaśās, Sakhas, Mlecchas and all other kings who opposed the Vedic way of life.

Previously the demons had conquered the Devatas and were residing in the lower planetary system called Rasātala. They abducted many celestial women from heaven and had taken them forcibly to Rasatala. Emperor Bharata freed these women from captivity and sent them back to heaven.

During his rule earth as well as skies abundantly supplied all the requirements of the beings without any shortcomings. With plentiful rainfall and abundant crops the entire kingdom flourished. Emperor Bharata ruled his kingdom for 27,000 years. Thereafter he began to ponder as follows,

“Even the prosperity of the Guardian-deities, undisputed emperorship, unmatched opulence and even this life-force are nothing but illusory”. With this conclusion, he developed dispassion towards this world.

Emperor Bharata had married the three daughters of Vidarbha kingdom. He loved them very dearly. He said to his wives that the children they had bore him were not worthy of him. Fearing that their husband would abandon them for having given birth to unworthy sons, these wives killed their own children.

In that era, parents did not maintain feelings of attachment and love towards their children who treaded the path of unrighteousness. To them, abiding by righteousness (dharma) was far more valuable than attachment towards children. They did not fear landing in hell for this heinous deed. They feared betraying dharma.

As a result of this deed, Bharata’s lineage abruptly came to an end. Emperor Bharata was worried. For begetting a progeny he performed the Marut-stoma Yagna and through this worshipped the Marutt Devatas. Pleased with him, the Marutt Devatas blessed him with a son called Bharadwaja.

Let me narrate to you the story of Bharadwaja’s birth.

Brihaspati, the Guru of Devatas, once wanted to enjoy in solitude with his brother’s wife Mamata. Mamata was pregnant at that time. The fetus in her womb chastised Brihaspati. Angered with this rebuke, Brihaspati cursed the fetus to become blind. Saying this he released his radiance, from which a son was born. Fearing that her husband would desert her, Mamata decided to abandon this boy. When she was in this fix, the Devatas approached her. In the form of a song they named the child.

Brihaspati addressed her and said, “O foolish woman! We both are responsible for this boy’s birth. Therefore you should raise him”. Mamata replied, “O Brihaspati! Since this child is born due to us both, you raise him”. After this heated argument, both of them abandoned the child and went away. Based on their argument, this infant came to be known as Bharadwaja.

The Devatas persuaded Mamata, “Do not fear that your husband with chastise you”. Even then, Mamata considered the boy to be worthless. Hence she abandoned him. Marutt Devatas then accepted this child and raised him.

When Bharata’s lineage was about to end, Marutt Devatas handed over this boy to Bharata.

With this the twentieth chapter of the ninth canto comes to an end.

Ninth Canto Chapter Twenty-one

In this chapter, the story of Rantideva is covered.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “Bharadwaja who was handed over by the Marutt Devatas was known as Vitaṭha. His son was Manyu. Manyu had five sons viz., Brihadkṣtra, Jaya, Mahāveerya, Nara and Garga. Nara’s son was Saṃkṛti. Saṃkṛti had two sons Guru and Rantideva. Among them, Rantideva’s glory is sung not only across the entire globe but also in heavens.

Rantideva never aspired to earn wealth. He was contented with whatever was showered upon him by providence. To add to it, he would distribute his wealth, which came on its own, in charities. Due to this magnanimous nature he was reduced to poverty. Due to lack of foodgrains, he suffered in hunger. Even when he, along with his family members, constantly suffered from pangs of hunger, he did not lose courage.

At one point of time Rantideva did not get even water to drink. Fourty-eight days passed thus. One early morning, he obtained ghee, little pāyasam (milk pudding) and water. His entire family was starving due to lack of food. Emaciated due to lack of food and water, Rantideva’s body was trembling. Just as the family members were about to eat the food received, a Brahmin guest arrived at the door-step.

Rantideva was the great Mahatma who saw the Lord in everybody. Immediately he got up and welcomed the guest who had arrived unexpectedly. He seated him and reverentially offered food to him. The Brahmin ate to his satisfaction and left the place.

Rantideva distributed the remaining food equally among all the family members. Just as they were about to eat, a śudra (member of the fourth community) arrived there as a guest. Mentally worshipping Lord Srihari, Rantideva got up and offered the food to the unexpected guest.

Just as the śudra guest left, another guest arrived. He was surrounded by dogs. This guest said, “O King, my dogs and me are unable to withstand these pangs of hunger. Please give us some food to eat.” King Rantideva respectfully offered food to this man and his dogs. He then offered obeisance to the guest.

The food received was thus exhausted. Rantideva was left only with water to drink. Rantideva was about to drink this water and quench his thirst when a butcher arrived there. “Will you please offer me that water even though I am a wicked sinner?”- he asked.

The butcher’s voice was feeble. It appeared to Rantideva that this butcher was undergoing unimaginable troubles. His compassionate heart melted upon hearing these feeble words. Rantideva addressed the butcher and said,

“I do not seek from the Supreme Lord the eight forms of prosperity. Neither do I seek liberation. All I seek from the Lord is to live in the hearts of all living beings and experience their agony. By experiencing their agony I want to free them from sufferings.

This poor butcher seeks to live longer. By quenching his thirst with this water, I shall be freed from mental distress, agony, fatigue, bodily suffering, distress, weakness of the limbs and illusion that arise due to hunger”.

This supreme king was naturally endowed with compassion. He had the perfect knowledge of what is permanent and what is impermanent in this creation. Due to thirst he was about to die. Even in such situation he was compassionate towards the butcher. He offered that little water which he had to the butcher.

In reality, the Devatas who are the Guardian deities of all the three worlds had taken on illusory forms and had arrived as guests in order to test Rantideva.

Krishnaya namah