274 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 8
PURPORT

The laws of nature work in subtle ways unknown to us. Maharaja
Bharata was a great king very advanced in devotional service. He had
almost reached the point of loving service to the Supreme Lord, but even
from that platform he could fall down onto the material platform. In
Bhagavad-gitd we are therefore warned:

yam hi na vyathayanty ete
purusam purusarsabha
sama-duhkha-sukham dhirarh
so ’mrtatvdya kalpate
“O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happi-
ness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.”
(Bg. 2.15)

Spiritual salvation and liberation from material bondage must be
worked out with great caution, otherwise a little discrepancy will cause
one to fall down again into material existence. By studying the activities
of Maharaja Bharata, we can learn the art of becoming completely freed
from all material attachment. As it will be revealed in later verses,
Bharata Maharaja had to accept the body of a deer due to being overly
compassionate for this infant deer. We should be compassionate by
raising one from the material platform to the spiritual platform; other-
wise at any moment our spiritual advancement may be spoiled, and we
may fall down onto the material platform. Maharaja Bharata’s compas-
sion for the deer was the beginning of his falldown into the material
world.

TEXT 8
TAT T cE satay Fafa:
sina: ae: geuaftaaigy THAT
sharia fasta: fee ad wteTaT I< II
tasya ha vad ena-kunaka uccair etasmin krta-niyjabhimanasyahar-ahas
tat-posana-pdlana-lalana-prinandnudhydnendtma-niyamdéh saha-
