A Brâhmana of the line of Angiras had nine sons by one wife. They were all well versed in the Vedas,âgavataPurâ He had one son by another wife and one daughter. This son was said to be an incarnation of Bharata. He was afraid of _sanga_ (company), so much so that he would not even speak to any one for fear of acquiring new Karma. People took him for an idiot. His father strove hard to teach him the Vedas but did not succeed. His parents died and his half brothers had charge of him. Their wisdom was that of the Vedas. They had not learned Âtmâ Vidyâ. So they did not understand the nature of Bharata and neglected him. They gave him poor meals for the day's work in the fields.
At one time a thief wanted to propitiate the goddess Bhadra Kâli by human sacrifice in order that he might be blessed with a child. The victim that was procured somehow untied himself and fled. The attendants searched for him on all sides in vain. They at last fell upon Bharata who was watching in the fields in a peculiar way. They found him most suited for sacrifice and tied him up and carried him to the altar of Kâli. He was duly consecrated and the priest took up a sharp instrument to cut off his head. Kâli could no longer remain unconcerned. She rushed forth in rage from out of her image, wrested the knives from the hands of the thieves and cut off their heads.
Once upon a time Râhugana King of Sindhu and Saubira was travelling in a palanquin. The chief palanquin bearer on reaching the river Ikshumati went in search of a bearer and on finding Bharata deemed him to be a god-send. He found his limbs strong and well-built and thought him capable of bearing the palanquin. He forced Bharata into the service. Bharata though quite unfit for this menial work did his utmost. But he was in the habit of looking forward for the distance of an arrow throw and then taking steps in advance, so that he might not unwarily kill some animal under his feet. He could not therefore keep pace with the other bearers and the palanquin lost its balance. King Rahûgana became angry and reproached the bearers. They complained against the new recruit. The king taunted Bharata with these words; "Oh my friend I dare say you are tired -- for have you not carried me long and for a long distance too -- and you appear to be thin indeed and weak. Are you suffering from decrepitude? Are not these your fellow-mates."