Bhartrihari biography for kids

A famous Sanskrit poet.

Birth.

He was the son of Vidyāsāgara, a great brahmin scholar, who lived in Pāṭalīputra. There is a legend about the birth of Bhartṛhari in UttaraBhārata.

Vidyāsāgara while young learnt the Vedas from his guru.

Bhartrihari biography for kids

But he was not satisfied with that study and wanted to learn more about all śāstras and so he started on a tour to find out a guru who would teach him all he wanted. On his way he met several great scholars but none came up to his standard of a guru.

One day tired after a long journey he reached a mountain valley. Washing his hands and feet in a nearby river and quenching his thirst he went and sat down under a banyan tree to rest. The cool breeze sent the tired brahmin to sleep and he slept.

A Brahmarākṣasa who was living on the top of the banyan tree when it became midday descended from the tree to perform the sacred rites of the day and found a man lying asleep.

By the sacred thread on his body the Brahmarākṣasa surmised tha