Why Lord Krishna says he is Bhrigu in sages?

Question

Why Lord Krishna says he is Bhrigu in sages whereas Bhrigu rishi put leg on the Lord Vishnu's chest? Is there any reason behind calling himself as Sage bhrigu?

reference geeta ch-10 verse 25

Answer 1

Prabhupāda notes that Bhṛgu is the most powerful among all of Brahmā's sons, so that's why Kṛṣṇa says he's Bhṛgu among the ṛṣi's in BG 10.25:

Brahmā, the first living creature within the universe, created several sons for the propagation of various kinds of species. Among these sons, Bhṛgu is the most powerful sage ...

Also, according to the Mahābhārata, Bhṛgu was also reborn out of fire:

The great and blessed saint Bhrigu, we are informed, was produced by the self-existing Brahma from the fire at the sacrifice of Varuna.

And a couple of verses earlier (BG 10.23), we see that Kṛṣṇa is comparing himself with fire (Agni).

Of all the Rudras I am Lord Śiva, of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the Lord of wealth [Kuvera], of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains I am Meru.

Answer 2

He is Bhrigu among the great sages: The names of the seven prominent sages of the present Manvantara are known from verses (2:2:4) of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. They are: Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kasyapa, Vasishta and Vishwamitra.

According to the Jaiminya Brahmana, the names of the seven great sages are - Agastya, Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vasishta and Vishwamitra.

The name of Rishi Bhrigu is not mentioned in any list among those prominent sages. But Krishna says that he is Bhrigu among the great sages.

So, the question arises - what divine qualities did sage Bhrigu have that Lord Krishna called himself Bhrigu among the sages?

• A) He attained ever blissful form of Brahman: Sage Bhrigu was the son of Varuni (Varun). The Taittiriya Upanishad has three branches. Shikshavalli, Brahmanandavalli, and Bhriguvalli. There are ten anuvakas in this Bhriguvalli. From the 1st to the 6th anuvakas of those ten anuvakas, there are question and answer episodes between Varuni (father) and Bhrigu (son) on Brahmavidya education. The main verses are not quoted here as the implications are large. Only the magnetic parts of the verse are highlighted. 1st Anupaka: Bhrigu went to his father and said, "Father, teach me about Brahmavidya." The father said, "Do penance".

  2nd verse: Bhrigu did penance and realized that Anna (food) is Brahman. Knowing this, Bhrigu again went to his father and said, "Father, grant me Brahmavidya." The father said, "Do penance".

  3rd Anuvaka: Bhrigu did penance and realized that mind is Brahman. Knowing this, Bhrigu again went to his father and said, "Father, grant me Brahmavidya." The father said, "Do penance".

  4th Anuvaka: Bhrigu did penance and realized that Prana (life) is Brahman. Knowing this, Bhrigu again went to his father and said, "Father, grant me Brahmavidya." The father said, "Do penance".

  5th Anuvaka: Bhrigu did penance and realized that science is Brahman. Knowing this, Bhrigu again went to his father and said, "Father, grant me Brahmavidya." The father said, "Do penance".

  6th Anuvaka: Bhrigu did penance and knew that bliss is Brahman. Because from this bliss the living beings are born, grow in bliss and finally enter into bliss.

This blissful kosha is established in the heart sky. So, starting from the annamaya kosha, the life ends in the anandamaya (blissful) kosha.

He who knows this knowledge attains blissful establishment in Brahman. The Vedas and the Upanishads state that Brahma (Shri Krishna) is as truth, as knowledge, as infinite, and as ever blissful. Sage Bhrigu was different from other sages as he could realize Krishna (Brahman) in that ever blissful form.

• B) He found out the truth: Once the sages gathered on the banks of the river Saraswati to participate in a great yajna. But the sages could not decide who would be the recipient of the sacrifice among the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar).

  They employ Bhrigu to determine the answer.

  • Bhrigu first approached Brahma in Satyaloka. Usually, sages approach Brahma by singing his praises and offering obeisances to him. But Rishi Bhrigu did nothing. Brahma was very angry at this. But did not realize that Bhrigu had come to test him.

  • Then Bhrigu went to Kailasa, the abode of Shiva. Seeing the sage, Shiva came forward to embrace him. But the sage did not embrace him and continued to say that he (Shiva) is the deity who tarnishes social norms and rituals. Enraged at this, Shiva moved to strike the sage with his trident, but Parvati calmed him down.

  • Then the sage went to Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu. Sage Bhrigu saw Vishnu sleeping with his head on Lakshmi's lap. Bhrigu was enraged by this scene and kicked Vishnu on his chest to wake him up. Vishnu immediately woke up and greeted Bhrigu. Then Vishnu told Bhrigu that His (Vishnu's) chest has bad purified by the touch of your (Bhrigu's) feet. Saying this, sage Vishnu started massaging Bhrigu's feet.

  Overcame with emotion, Bhrigu went back to the sages and declared Vishnu as the recipient of the sacrifice among the Trimurtis.

  To know the truth, one has to be fearless and impartial. Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar - these three deities’ rank is above the gods and sages. But sage Bhrigu showed no weakness and partiality in testing the supreme deities to know what is truth. This is Brahmajnana (the knowledge of Brahman).

Brahmajnanis (Knower of the knowledge of Brahman) know the truth and live by the truth.

C) He played the role of the usher of a new era: The Manu Smriti reveals that Rishi Bhrigu was a contemporary of "Manu" and a pioneer of the present Manvantara. In fact, Manu and Bhrigu played the most important role in Manu Smriti Sankalp. Rishi Bhrigu is the originator of the role that astronomy plays in determining various religious times in Indian religious scriptures and philosophy. That is, he was a pioneer in building what was needed to usher in a new era.

D) He was unassuming: Rishi Bhrigu was unassuming. He was able to eradicate the sense of ego. Sage Bhrigu never engaged in conflict with any other sages in the conflict of superiority. Especially sages like Rishi Vashishta and Rishi Vishwamitra were engaged in their unprecedented battle of superiority. But sage Bhrigu was completely different from other sages. He devoted his life to the creation of the new era and its preservation. This is why Krishna says that He is Bhrigu among sages.