Shloka 3

Bharata Mahārāja’s Attachment to a Deer and His Fall from Yoga

Devanagari script

तया पेपीयमान उदके तावदेवाविदूरेण नदतो मृगपतेरुन्नादो लोकभयङ्कर उदपतत् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

As the doe drank the water with deep satisfaction, a lion very nearby let out a thunderous roar. That sound, terrifying to all beings, reached the doe’s ears.

Synonyms

• तया: by her
• तया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन; pronoun ‘she/that (f.)’ in Instrumental singular

• पेपीयमानः: being drunk (being sipped)
• पेपीयमानः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with ‘उन्नादः’

• उदके: in the water
• उदके: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तावत्: just then/so much
• तावत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/कालवाचक (measure/time adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अविदूरेण: not far away/nearby
• अविदूरेण: देशाधिकरण-क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb of place/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावप्रयोग (instrumental used adverbially); तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण ‘nearby’ अर्थे

• नदतः: of (one) roaring
• नदतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (him) roaring’

• मृगपतेः: of the lord of beasts (lion)
• मृगपतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृगाणां पतिः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उन्नादः: a loud roar
• उन्नादः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• लोकभयङ्करः: terrifying to people
• लोकभयङ्करः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + भयङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य भयङ्करः ‘terrifying to the world/people’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying ‘उन्नादः’

• उदपतत्: arose/suddenly sprang up
• उदपतत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘arose/sprang up’

Characters & Entities

• Bharata Mahārāja
• Doe (mṛgī)
• Lion (mṛga-pati)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sudden fear and attachment in spiritual life?

This verse shows how a sudden frightening event (the lion’s roar) can trigger crisis and reveal vulnerability—especially when one’s mind is attached to protecting and possessing, rather than fixed in remembrance of the Lord.

Why is the lion’s roar mentioned in Bharata Mahārāja’s deer story?

It is the turning point that causes the doe’s panic and sets the stage for Bharata’s protective involvement—illustrating how worldly situations can pull even an advanced renunciant into deeper attachment.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

When sudden problems arise, respond with duty and compassion, but guard the mind from possessiveness—keep daily sādhana strong so care does not become attachment that displaces devotion.