Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, 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.
Ou bien, voyant le lotus de mon cœur brûler sous les flammes de l’incendie de la forêt—la fièvre de la séparation, comme si j’étais séparé de mon propre fils—, à cause du faon qui s’est approché de moi, la lune me asperge de ses rayons frais, tels un nectar d’eau venu de son visage, comme un ami jette de l’eau sur un ami pris d’une forte fièvre, m’apportant ainsi apaisement et joie ?
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.