Bharata Sindhu Rashmi, written by Vinayak Krishna Gokak (1909 – 92), is based on Vedic literature, and portrays the life and achievements of Vishwaratha from whom emerges the great sage Vishwamitra, the seer of the famous Gayatri Mantra.
Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi has 24,000 lines divided into twelve
cantos in blank verse. A vivid description of more than two hundred characters,
both local inhabitants and migrants, and a vast geographical area comprising
most parts of ancient India, find a place in this work. The epic covers various
aspects of life such as the cultural, historical, mythological, geographical,
societal and economic. The character of Vishwaratha is used to convey the
message of the epic.
Vishwamitra, the son of Gadhi, fought with Vasishta for the
sake of Nandini, the divine cow, but in vain. He suffered humiliation at the
ands of Vasishta. To achieve brahmabala (supreme power) he undertook severe
penance. In an attempt to send Trishanku to heaven alive, he created his own
heaven called Trishanku Svarga. He also tried to create another Indra with a
separate universe. At last he was satisfied with the advice given by sage
Vamana that whatever power his penance brought him had to be used for the
larger interest of mankind with the ultimate aim of harmony in the universe. He
realized that penance should never be in opposition to the divine will. Thus
the story of Vishvamitra is told by the gifted poet. His vast learning and rich
experience are clearly discernible.
In his English summary of the epic, the poet says that he
had depicted the Rig Vedic vision of life with the intention of indicating its
relevance to modern times.
He employs the concept of ‘voyage’ as an archetype. The epic
starts with a search for something tangible and ends up with a search for the
actual self of an individual. The emphasis is on universal brotherhood. The
poet received the prestigious Jnanpith Awardh (1990) of India for this literary
work.