Shloka 13
Bharata Mahārāja’s Attachment to a Deer and His Fall from Yoga
पथिषु च मुग्धभावेन तत्र तत्र विषक्तमतिप्रणयभरहृदय: कार्पण्यात्स्कन्धेनोद्वहति एवमुत्सङ्ग उरसि चाधायोपलालयन्मुदं परमामवाप ॥ १३ ॥
pathiṣu ca mugdha-bhāvena tatra tatra viṣakta-mati-praṇaya-bhara-hṛdayaḥ kārpaṇyāt skandhenodvahati evam utsaṅga urasi cādhāyopalālayan mudaṁ paramām avāpa.
Along the paths, the fawn’s innocent, childlike ways enchanted Mahārāja Bharata, and his mind clung to it again and again. His heart, heavy with affection, would in compassion lift the deer onto his shoulders and carry it. Sometimes he kept it on his lap, and when he slept, upon his chest—fondling it tenderly and tasting the highest delight.
Mahārāja Bharata left his home, wife, children, kingdom and everything else to advance his spiritual life in the forest, but again he fell victim to material affection due to his attachment to an insignificant pet deer. What, then, was the use of his renouncing his family? One who is serious in advancing his spiritual life should be very cautious not to become attached to anything but Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes, in order to preach, we have to accept many material activities, but we should remember that everything is for Kṛṣṇa. If we remember this, there is no chance of our being victimized by material activities.
FAQs
This verse shows how infatuation repeatedly fixes the mind on the object of desire, making one act out of weakness and seek ‘supreme pleasure,’ which becomes the doorway to further moral and spiritual decline.
Śukadeva uses these details to illustrate the intensity of Ajāmila’s bondage—his heart is ‘burdened’ by affection, and his behavior becomes driven by attachment rather than dharma.
Guard the senses and mind, avoid repeated exposure that strengthens obsession, and replace harmful attachment with sādhana—holy name, prayer, and association that redirects affection toward Bhagavān.