Bhagavatapurana 5.8

5.8.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
ekadā tu mahā-nadyāṃ kṛtābhiṣeka-naiyamikāvaśyako brahmākṣaram abhigṛṇāno muhūrta-trayam udakānta upaviveśa //

1. Sri Suka said:— On one occasion he bathed in the great river, performed his daily and special duties and for three hours sat on the bank near the water repeating the sacred syllable in meditation of the Lord.

5.8.2

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tatra tadā rājan hariṇī pipāsayā jalāśayābhyāśam ekaivopajagāma //

2. O king, at that time there came to the vicinity of the water a deer all alone to quench her thirst.

5.8.3

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tayā pepīyamāna udake tāvad evāvidūreṇa nadato mṛga-pater unnādo loka-bhayaṅkara udapatat //

3. And she was greedily swallowing mouthful of water; just then, not very far from the spot, a tremendous roar of a lion was heard filling the world with fear.

5.8.4

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tam upaśrutya sā mṛga-vadhūḥ prakṛti-viklavā cakita-nirīkṣaṇā sutarām api hari-bhayābhiniveśa-vyagra-hṛdayā pāriplava-dṛṣṭir agata-tṛṣā bhayāt sahasaivoccakrāma //

4. Having heard it, the deer, naturally frightful and weak, with affrighted eyes, her heart being bewildered by the fear of the lion (that filled it), with swimming eyes, her thirst remaining unquenched, through fear, she at once took a leap.

5.8.5

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tasyā utpatantyā antarvatnyā uru-bhayāvagalito yoni-nirgato garbhaḥ srotasi nipapāta //

5. When the deer, that was carrying, took her leap, as an effect of her intense fear, the young one in her womb was discharged and fell into the flood.

5.8.6

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tat-prasavotsarpaṇa-bhaya-khedāturā sva-gaṇena viyujyamānā kasyāñcid daryāṃ kṛṣṇa-sārasatī nipapātātha ca mamāra //

6. Afflicted by the pains of delivery, separated from her herd, the chaste housewife of the deer rushed into a cave and fell dead.

5.8.7

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taṃ tv eṇa-kuṇakaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ srotasānūhyamānam abhivīkṣyāpaviddhaṃ bandhur ivānukampayā rājarṣir bharata ādāya mṛta-mātaram ity āśrama-padam anayat //

7. On seeing that helpless young deer floating down the current, neglected by its kith and kin, the Royal sage Bharata, full of compassion as if he were its relation, carried it to his hermitage for the reason that it was motherless.

5.8.8

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tasya ha vā eṇa-kuṇaka uccair etasmin kṛta-nijābhimānasyāhar-ahas tat-poṣaṇa-pālana-lālana-prīṇanānudhyānenātma-niyamāḥ saha-yamāḥ puruṣa-paricaryādaya ekaikaśaḥ katipayenāhar-gaṇena viyujyamānāḥ kila sarva evodavasan //

8. When he formed a strong attachment to this young deer, as if it were his own and was engaged day after day in nourishing, defending, caressing and delighting it, and when his thoughts were thus wholly given to it, his daily habits, bathing and the like, his righteous practices, the worship of the supreme Lord and other duties came to be neglected one by one and soon they all left him.

5.8.9

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aho batāyaṃ hariṇa-kuṇakaḥ kṛpaṇa īśvara-ratha-caraṇa-paribhramaṇa-rayeṇa sva-gaṇa-suhṛd-bandhubhyaḥ parivarjitaḥ śaraṇaṃ ca mopasādito mām eva mātā-pitarau bhrātṛ-jñātīn yauthikāṃś caivopeyāya nānyaṃ kañcana veda mayy ati-visrabdhaś cāta eva mayā mat-parāyaṇasya poṣaṇa-pālana-prīṇana-lālanam anasūyunānuṣṭheyaṃ śaraṇyopekṣā-doṣa-viduṣā //

9. Pity! By the force of the Almighty Lord's car-wheels, this poor young deer is separated from its class, kith and kin, and well-wishers, has sought refuge with me and regards me as its parents, brothers, cousins, and mates of kindred class; it knows no one else, and trusts fully in me; and knowing that it is sinful to forsake the fugitive, I ought, without any feeling of inconvenience, to look to its protection, nourishment, cheerfulness and affectionate treatment.

5.8.10

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nūnaṃ hy āryāḥ sādhava upaśama-śīlāḥ kṛpaṇa-suhṛda evaṃ-vidhārthe svārthān api gurutarān upekṣante //

10. Certainly worthy and righteous men, ever tranquil and friendly to the wretched, neglect even those acts that are of greater importance to them, when there is such a charitable work for them to do.

5.8.11

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iti kṛtānuṣaṅga āsana-śayanāṭana-snānāśanādiṣu saha mṛga-jahunā snehānubaddha-hṛdaya āsīt //

11. Thus attached to it, while sitting, lying down, wandering about, standing, bathing, eating and so on, he was at heart bound in affection for the young deer.

5.8.12

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kuśa-kusuma-samit-palāśa-phala-mūlodakāny āhariṣyamāṇo vṛkasālā-vṛkādibhyo bhayam āśaṃsamāno yadā saha hariṇa-kuṇakena vanaṃ samāviśati //

12. When he had to get kuśa grass, flowers, sacrificial sticks, leaves, fruits, roots or water, he went to the woods along with the young deer as he expected danger to it from wolves, wild dogs and other beasts.

5.8.13

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pathiṣu ca mugdha-bhāvena tatra tatra viṣakta-mati-praṇaya-bhara-hṛdayaḥ kārpaṇyāt skandhenodvahati evam utsaṅga urasi cādhāyopalālayan mudaṃ paramām avāpa //

13. In every path, when it stopped here and there in perplexity natural to its age and disposition, he bore it on his shoulder out of pity in his heart full of intense affection, and thus caressing it on his lap and bosom he experienced extreme joy.

5.8.14

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kriyāyāṃ nirvartyamānāyām antarāle 'py utthāyotthāya yadainam abhicakṣīta tarhi vāva sa varṣa-patiḥ prakṛti-sthena manasā tasmā āśiṣa āśāste svasti stād vatsa te sarvata iti //

14. Even when he was performing his religious duties he would at intervals go out often to have a look at it and, his heart being then free from anxiety, that ruler of a continent would pronounce his blessings upon it (thus), "my child, mayest thou be safe in all quarters (on every side)"

5.8.15

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anyadā bhṛśam udvigna-manā naṣṭa-draviṇa iva kṛpaṇaḥ sakaruṇam ati-tarṣeṇa hariṇa-kuṇaka-viraha-vihvala-hṛdaya-santāpas tam evānuśocan kila kaśmalaṃ mahad abhirambhita iti hovāca //

15. At other times, greatly anxious and in a pitiable mood, like one who has lost his fortune, full of pity, in great eagerness, highly troubled at heart, perplexed by the separation from the young deer, lamenting it alone and being indeed reduced to a state of utter confusion he expressed himself thus:

5.8.16

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api bata sa vai kṛpaṇa eṇa-bālako mṛta-hariṇī-suto 'ho mamānāryasya śaṭha-kirāta-mater akṛta-sukṛtasya kṛta-visrambha ātma-pratyayena tad avigaṇayan sujana ivāgamiṣyati //

16. "Pity it is that poor young deer, the child of the deceased mother—it is painful to think—puts confidence in me who am mean, wicked and hard-hearted like a hunter, and who am unfortunate as having done no righteous deeds; it does not (care to) know my mind and, like a good soul in the purity of its own heart, goes to me.

5.8.17

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api kṣemeṇāsminn āśramopavane śaṣpāṇi carantaṃ deva-guptaṃ drakṣyāmi //

17. "Would that I see him safe protected by the gods and grazing tender grass in the woods adjoining this hermitage!

5.8.18

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api ca na vṛkaḥ sālā-vṛko 'nyatamo vā naika-cara eka-caro vā bhakṣayati //

18. "Would that no wolf, no wild dog, or, no other animal, going about in herds (like the boar), or, singly like the tiger, makes it its victim!

5.8.19

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nimlocati ha bhagavān sakala-jagat-kṣemodayas trayy-ātmādyāpi mama na mṛga-vadhū-nyāsa āgacchati //

19. "(Now) sets the glorious Lord the Sun, who daily rises for (on whose appearance rests) the welfare of all the world, who is the embodiment of the Vedas; (the young one) the pledge of the she-deer has not still returned to me.

5.8.20

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api svid akṛta-sukṛtam āgatya māṃ sukhayiṣyati hariṇa-rāja-kumāro vividha-rucira-darśanīya-nija-mṛga-dāraka-vinodair asantoṣaṃ svānām apanudan //

20. "Would that the prince of the young deer return and bring joy to me the unfortunate, (who had not done anything righteous) and, by his various naturally charming and pleasing sportive activities remove the anxiety of his own kith and kin; *i.e.*, (remove my own anxiety).

5.8.21

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kṣvelikāyāṃ māṃ mṛṣā-samādhināmīlita-dṛśaṃ prema-saṃrambheṇa cakita-cakita āgatya pṛṣad-aparuṣa-viṣāṇāgreṇa luṭhati //

21. "When in sportive mood sporting, it would, in anger of love, very much hesitatingly approach me as I shut my eyes in sham meditation, and try to tumble me down (dart at me) with the ends of its horns soft as drops of water.

5.8.22

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āsādita-haviṣi barhiṣi dūṣite mayopālabdho bhīta-bhītaḥ sapady uparata-rāsa ṛṣi-kumāravad avahita-karaṇa-kalāpa āste //

22. "When my offering placed on the Darbha (tender grass) is polluted by it and it is rebuked for it, it would get very much affrighted and at once cease to play and stand still like a young hermit with all·his senses controlled (with all its activities at rest).

5.8.23

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kiṃ vā are ācaritaṃ tapas tapasvinyānayā yad iyam avaniḥ savinaya-kṛṣṇa-sāra-tanaya-tanutara-subhaga-śivatamākhara-khura-pada-paṅktibhir draviṇa-vidhurāturasya kṛpaṇasya mama draviṇa-padavīṃ sūcayanty ātmānaṃ ca sarvataḥ kṛta-kautukaṃ dvijānāṃ svargāpavarga-kāmānāṃ deva-yajanaṃ karoti //

23. "O, what tapas must have been observed by the fortunate mother Earth who indicates to me the path to find out, the (only) wealth (young deer) belonging to my wretched self that is oppressed with anxiety about it, by means of the series of marks left by the soft, sacred, charming and very little hoofs of the modest, and docile young deer; and who by so doing makes herself the sacrificial ground of the twice-born who seek after Swarga and Moksha!

5.8.24

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api svid asau bhagavān uḍu-patir enaṃ mṛga-pati-bhayān mṛta-mātaraṃ mṛga-bālakaṃ svāśrama-paribhraṣṭam anukampayā kṛpaṇa-jana-vatsalaḥ paripāti //

24. "May it be that the glorious Lord of the stars sympathetic towards the afflicted, takes pity on this motherless young deer which has strayed away from its resort and protects it from the fear of the lion?

5.8.25

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kiṃ vātmaja-viśleṣa-jvara-dava-dahana-śikhābhir upatapyamāna-hṛdaya-sthala-nalinīkaṃ mām upasṛta-mṛgī-tanayaṃ śiśira-śāntānurāga-guṇita-nija-vadana-salilāmṛtamaya-gabhastibhiḥ svadhayatīti ca //

25. "May it be that (this Lord of the stars) also appeases me, as I go out in search of the deer, when my heart, like unto a land-lotus, is being scorched by the flames of the forest-fire (anxiety) caused by separation from my child—appeases by means of his nectarine rays (in the form of) the saliva in its mouth flowing out profusely through its cooling and refreshing love?"

5.8.26

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evam aghaṭamāna-manorathākula-hṛdayo mṛga-dārakābhāsena svārabdha-karmaṇā yogārambhaṇato vibhraṃśitaḥ sa yoga-tāpaso bhagavad-ārādhana-lakṣaṇāc ca katham itarathā jāty-antara eṇa-kuṇaka āsaṅgaḥ sākṣān niḥśreyasa-pratipakṣatayā prāk-parityakta-dustyaja-hṛdayābhijātasya tasyaivam antarāya-vihata-yogārambhaṇasya rājarṣer bharatasya tāvan mṛgārbhaka-poṣaṇa-pālana-prīṇana-lālanānuṣaṅgeṇāvigaṇayata ātmānam ahir ivākhu-bilaṃ duratikramaḥ kālaḥ karāla-rabhasa āpadyata //

26. Thus his heart bewildered with unpracticable wishes under the force of his Prarabdha Karma fructifying in the form of a young deer, he fell back from his yogic practices and also from the habit of worshipping the Almighty Lord; how could he otherwise feel such

an overwhelming attachment to the young deer, a creature of a different species? The inevitable time of fearful speed, like unto a serpent coming up to a rat's hole, overtook him, the saintly king Bharata, who had once considered his own sons a great hindrance to salvation and separated himself from them, though it is hard to do so, whose yogic course was interrupted by obstacles and who had forgotten himself in his busy attention to the bringing up, protecting, gratifying and caressing of the young one of a deer.

5.8.27

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tadānīm api pārśva-vartinam ātmajam ivānuśocantam abhivīkṣamāṇo mṛga evābhiniveśita-manā visṛjya lokam imaṃ saha mṛgeṇa kalevaraṃ mṛtam anu na mṛta-janmānusmṛtir itaravan mṛga-śarīram avāpa //

27. Even at that moment he wistfully looks at the deer that, like a son stood weeping by his side, and having given all his heart to the deer alone, departed from this body along with the deer; and without losing the memory of the past life, though the body had gone, he like an ordinary mortal was again born as a deer.

5.8.28

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tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaṃ bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhānubhāvenānusmṛtya bhṛśam anutapyamāna āha //

28. Though he was in that life, he remembered the cause of his birth as a deer by virtue of his endeavours (in his previous life) to worship Hari and in great distress he says.

5.8.29

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aho kaṣṭaṃ bhraṣṭo 'ham ātmavatām anupathād yad-vimukta-samasta-saṅgasya vivikta-puṇyāraṇya-śaraṇasyātmavata ātmani sarveṣām ātmanāṃ bhagavati vāsudeve tad-anuśravaṇa-manana-saṅkīrtanārādhanānusmaraṇābhiyogenāśūnya-sakala-yāmena kālena samāveśitaṃ samāhitaṃ kārtsnyena manas tat tu punar mamābudhasyārān mṛga-sutam anu parisusrāva //

29. "What a painful thing it is! fallen am I from the path of the wise; for I had rescued myself from all attachment and sought shelter in the secluded and hallowed woods, controlled the mind and set it on the glorious Vasudeva, who is the Atman (self) of all beings, for a long time, every hour of which was not void, as I was listening to the accounts of the Almighty Lord, holding logical examination of, and pondering over, what is heard, singing His praises, worshipping Him and constantly remembering Him; that heart of my foolish self in a moment was made to incline towards the young deer (Lit. flowed over towards) even from a distance.

5.8.30

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ity evaṃ nigūḍha-nirvedo visṛjya mṛgīṃ mātaraṃ punar bhagavat-kṣetram upaśama-śīla-muni-gaṇa-dayitaṃ śālagrāmaṃ pulastya-pulahāśramaṃ kālañjarāt pratyājagāma //

30. Thus full of deep-rooted remorse, he left his mother deer and from the mount Kalenjar, his birth place, retraced his steps to the hermitage, the spot marked by Sala trees, of Pulastya and Pulaha, a place considered to be full of God's presence and most beloved of sages who have attained serenity of mind.

5.8.31

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tasminn api kālaṃ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ saṅgāc ca bhṛśam udvigna ātma-sahacaraḥ śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā vartamāno mṛgatva-nimittāvasānam eva gaṇayan mṛga-śarīraṃ tīrthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja //

31. And there also, looking forward to the time (when he could cast off this bestial vesture), highly disgusted with the feeling of attachment, in complete seculsion, living on dry leaves, grass, and

herbs and reckoning the time for the termination of the cause of his life as a deer, he plunged into the holy waters and gave up that body.