Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
Bharata Mahārāja’s Attachment to a Deer and His Fall from Yoga
तस्य ह वा एणकुणक उच्चैरेतस्मिन् कृतनिजाभिमानस्याहरहस्तत्पोषणपालनलालनप्रीणनानुध्यानेनात्मनियमा: सहयमा: पुरुषपरिचर्यादय एकैकश: कतिपयेनाहर्गणेन वियुज्यमाना: किल सर्व एवोदवसन् ॥ ८ ॥
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.
Gradually Mahārāja Bharata became very affectionate toward the deer. He began to raise it and maintain it by giving it grass. He was always careful to protect it from the attacks of tigers and other animals. When it itched, he petted it, and in this way he always tried to keep it in a comfortable condition. He sometimes kissed it out of love. Being attached to raising the deer, Mahārāja Bharata forgot the rules and regulations for the advancement of spiritual life, and he gradually forgot to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After a few days, he forgot everything about his spiritual advancement.
From this we can understand how we have to be very cautious in executing our spiritual duties by observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. If we neglect doing this, we will eventually fall down. We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend maṅgala-ārati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the ācāryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.5) :
FAQs
This verse explains that Bharata’s possessive attachment to the fawn made him constantly absorbed in its care, and as a result his vows, self-restraint, and worship of the Supreme Lord gradually disappeared.
To show Parīkṣit Mahārāja how even an advanced devotee can fall from steady practice when affection turns into possessiveness and constant worldly absorption.
Care and responsibility are natural, but this verse warns against obsessive identification (“mine”)—maintain daily sādhana and keep Krishna at the center while performing duties.