How Did The Name 'Bharat'

Bharata was the son of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta. He lived with his mother in the sage's hermitage. It is about the time when Bharat was only five years old. He was playing in the ashram. He saw that a lioness come there with her child and sat under a tree. The lioness's baby started drinking its mother's milk. Then he jumped and came towards Bharata.

Bharat was overjoyed. He got a partner to play with. In the game, Bharat put his hand in his mouth. The lion child did not bite him. Bharata was not even afraid of the lioness. Laughing, he climbed up on her. The lioness child and Bharata began to ride the lioness with pleasure.      

When the sage saw all this, he said- "This child is very fearless. Sees the teeth of a lion, plays with it, rides on a lioness, such a child cannot be ordinary.

This Bharata grew up and became the king of our country. Our country was named 'Bharat' after him. India is a country of brave hearts like 'Bharat'.