Shloka 33

भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः

Devanagari script

ततश् च तत्कालकृतां भावनां प्राप्य तादृशीम् जम्बूमार्गे महारण्ये जज्ञे जातिस्मरो मृगः

Transliteration

tataś ca tatkālakṛtāṃ bhāvanāṃ prāpya tādṛśīm jambūmārge mahāraṇye jajñe jātismaro mṛgaḥ

Translation

随后，由于当时所造就的心行习气推动，他得到了相应的境界：在阎浮提的行路之中、于广大的荒林里，他投生为鹿——却是能忆前生的鹿。

Word by Word

ततःthereupon

चand

तत्कालकृताम्made at that time

भावनाम्mental impression, contemplation

प्राप्यhaving attained

तादृशीम्such, of that kind

जम्बूमार्गेon the Jambū-path (region)

महारण्येin the great forest

जज्ञेwas born

जातिस्मरःremembering former births

मृगःa deer

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A specific mental formation at death propels the jiva into a corresponding birth, even within the human world-continent (Jambū-dvīpa).

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Treat every repeated thought-pattern as future destiny-in-seed; cultivate Viṣṇu-smṛti and sattva through disciplined habits.

Vishishtadvaita: The jiva retains continuity (jātismara) across bodies, supporting the view of an enduring self dependent on the Supreme for its journey through saṃsāra.

Characters & Entities

Parāśara

Maitreya

Jambū-dvīpa

FAQs

What is the significance of bhāvanā in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that the mental impression cultivated “at that time” (bhāvanā) directly conditions the next embodiment, showing how inner fixation becomes karmic destiny.

How does Sage Parāśara explain rebirth through this episode?

Parāśara frames rebirth as a lawful consequence of saṁskāras: the mind’s final or dominant formation carries the jīva toward a matching birth, even in an animal form.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching presupposes a divinely upheld cosmic order—Vishnu as the supreme governor of dharma—through which karma and rebirth operate with coherence.