Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13
Bharata Mahārāja’s Attachment to a Deer and His Fall from Yoga
पथिषु च मुग्धभावेन तत्र तत्र विषक्तमतिप्रणयभरहृदय: कार्पण्यात्स्कन्धेनोद्वहति एवमुत्सङ्ग उरसि चाधायोपलालयन्मुदं परमामवाप ॥ १३ ॥
pathiṣu ca mugdha-bhāvena tatra tatra viṣakta-mati-praṇaya-bhara-hṛdayaḥ kārpaṇyāt skandhenodvahati evam utsaṅga urasi cādhāyopalālayan mudaṁ paramām avāpa.
Trên đường đi, chú nai con với dáng vẻ ngây thơ khiến Mahārāja Bharata say mê và tâm trí thường xuyên vướng bận. Trái tim ngập tràn thương mến, vì lòng trắc ẩn ngài bồng nó lên vai mà mang theo. Khi thì đặt trong lòng, khi ngủ lại đặt trên ngực, vuốt ve âu yếm và cảm nhận niềm hoan hỷ tối thượng.
Mahārāja Bharata left his home, wife, children, kingdom and everything else to advance his spiritual life in the forest, but again he fell victim to material affection due to his attachment to an insignificant pet deer. What, then, was the use of his renouncing his family? One who is serious in advancing his spiritual life should be very cautious not to become attached to anything but Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes, in order to preach, we have to accept many material activities, but we should remember that everything is for Kṛṣṇa. If we remember this, there is no chance of our being victimized by material activities.
FAQs
This verse shows how infatuation repeatedly fixes the mind on the object of desire, making one act out of weakness and seek ‘supreme pleasure,’ which becomes the doorway to further moral and spiritual decline.
Śukadeva uses these details to illustrate the intensity of Ajāmila’s bondage—his heart is ‘burdened’ by affection, and his behavior becomes driven by attachment rather than dharma.
Guard the senses and mind, avoid repeated exposure that strengthens obsession, and replace harmful attachment with sādhana—holy name, prayer, and association that redirects affection toward Bhagavān.