Shloka 25
Bharata Mahārāja’s Attachment to a Deer and His Fall from Yoga
किं वाऽऽत्मजविश्लेषज्वरदवदहनशिखाभिरुपतप्यमानहृदयस्थलनलिनीकं मामुपसृतमृगीतनयं शिशिरशान्तानुरागगुणितनिजवदनसलिलामृतमयगभस्तिभि: स्वधयतीति च ॥ २५ ॥
kiṁ vātmaja-viśleṣa-jvara-dava-dahana-śikhābhir upatapyamāna-hṛdaya-sthala-nalinīkaṁ mām upasṛta-mṛgī-tanayaṁ śiśira-śāntānurāga-guṇita-nija-vadana-salilāmṛtamaya-gabhastibhiḥ svadhayatīti ca.
Or else, seeing the lotus of my heart scorched by the forest-fire flames of separation’s fever—as though I were parted from my own son—because the fawn has come near me, the moon is surely sprinkling me with his cool rays, like nectarean water from his face, as a friend splashes water upon a friend burning with high fever, thus bringing me relief and joy.
According to Āyurvedic treatment, it is said that if one has a high fever, someone should splash him with water after gargling this water. In this way the fever subsides. Although Bharata Mahārāja was very aggrieved due to the separation of his so-called son, the deer, he thought that the moon was splashing gargled water on him from its mouth and that this water would subdue his high fever, which was raging due to separation from the deer.
FAQs
This verse shows Bharata interpreting the fawn’s dependence in tender, emotional terms—illustrating how compassion can gradually turn into binding attachment when it becomes a substitute focus for one’s devotion and meditation.
He assumed the fawn was burning in distress from separation from its mother and had come to be comforted by Bharata’s affectionate, soothing presence—revealing Bharata’s increasing emotional involvement.
Serve and protect others as duty, but keep the heart anchored in remembrance of the Lord; avoid letting caregiving become the mind’s primary attachment that displaces sādhana, japa, and steady bhakti.