Shloka 19
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
चकारानुदिनं चासौ मृगपोतस्य वै नृपः पोषणं पुष्यमाणश् च स तेन ववृधे मुने
cakārānudinaṃ cāsau mṛgapotasya vai nṛpaḥ poṣaṇaṃ puṣyamāṇaś ca sa tena vavṛdhe mune
And that king, day after day, diligently tended the young fawn; and the little creature, being nourished by him, grew and flourished—O sage.
Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The king’s ongoing care for the fawn and its growth
Teaching: Historical
Quality: observational, gently cautionary
Concept: Repeated affectionate attention creates deep mental bonds; without vigilance, even virtuous care can redirect the mind from the highest goal.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Practice ‘offering’ (īśvara-arpana) of caregiving and regularly re-center through mantra and contemplation to prevent unconscious clinging.
Vishishtadvaita: Affection becomes liberating when integrated as bhagavat-sambandha (relation to the Lord); otherwise it binds the jīva within prakṛti-driven saṃskāras.
Bhakti Type: dasya
FAQs
It highlights a king’s dharma expressed as protection and sustained care, showing that sovereignty is measured not only by power but by daily responsibility toward the vulnerable.
By emphasizing repeated, everyday conduct—‘anudinam’—the verse frames virtue as something cultivated through consistent practice, mirrored in the fawn’s flourishing under steady care.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview treats righteous protection and order (dharma) as aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining principle, the divine sovereignty that upholds life and harmony.