The Rebirths
King Bharata — after whom India is named Bharatavarsha — had renounced his empire and gone to the forest to pursue liberation. Near death, he became attached to an orphaned deer and died thinking of it. He was reborn as a deer.
As a deer, remembering his past life, he lived near sages and died in a hermitage. He was reborn as a Brahmin — the son of a good family.
But his parents and siblings thought him mad. He said nothing, did nothing, ate only what was given, helped with farm work without being asked, and ignored insults. He was called Jadabharata — "inert Bharata."
The Palanquin
The soldiers of King Rahugana seized him to carry the royal palanquin. He carried it — but walked around insects in his path rather than step on them, so the palanquin tilted continuously.
The king, irritated, rebuked him through the palanquin curtain.
Jadabharata stopped and said: "You say I am tired. But what is 'I'? The body does not feel — it is matter. The Self does not feel — it is witness. What is this 'I' you are speaking of?"
The Teaching
The king, recognizing that something extraordinary was happening, descended from his palanquin and prostrated himself before the seemingly mad Brahmin.
Jadabharata taught him the entire structure of the cosmos, the nature of the Self, the cycle of rebirth, and the path to liberation — in one continuous discourse.
He then walked away and was not seen again.