Shloka 22
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
तस्य तस्मिन् मृगे दूरसमीपपरिवर्तिनि आसीच् चेतः समासक्तं न ययाव् अन्यतो द्विज
tasya tasmin mṛge dūrasamīpaparivartini āsīc cetaḥ samāsaktaṃ na yayāv anyato dvija
उस मृग में—जो कभी दूर, कभी पास घूमता रहता था—उसका चित्त अत्यन्त आसक्त हो गया; हे द्विज, उसका ध्यान फिर कहीं और नहीं गया।
Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)
FAQs
The deer represents an alluring, unpredictable sense-object—coming close and going far—by which the mind becomes captivated and diverted from higher contemplation and liberation.
He shows that once consciousness clings to a moving object of fascination, attention stops flowing toward other aims—especially spiritual steadiness—creating a practical bondage of the mind.
The verse implies that liberation requires the mind to turn away from restless attractions and become steady in the Supreme—Vishnu—rather than being pulled outward by fluctuating objects.