Text 13] The Character of Bharata Maharaja 28]
TEXT 13

qfag qarmaa at aa farwafanrae: =| -adeat-
THM eT TARTU AUNTS |S TAT: 3
pathisu ca mugdha-bhavena tatra tatra visakta- mati-pranaya-bhara-
hrdayah karpanyat skandhenodvahati evam utsanga urasi
cadhdyopalalayan mudam paramam avapa.

pathisu—on the forest paths; ca—also; mugdha-bhavena—by the
childish behavior of the deer; tatra tatra—here and there: visakta-
mati—whose mind was too much attracted: pranaya—with love:
bhara—loaded; hrdayah—whose heart; karpanyat—because of affec-
tion and love; skandhena—by the shoulder; udvahati—carries: evam—
in this way; utsange—sometimes on the lap; urasi—on the chest while
sleeping: ca—also; ddhdya—keeping: upaldlayan—fondling:
mudam—pleasure: paramaém—very great: avdpa—he felt.

TRANSLATION

When entering the forest, the animal would appear very attrac-
tive to Maharaja Bharata due to its childish behavior. Maharaja
Bharata would even take the deer on his shoulders and carry it due
to affection. His heart was so filled with great love for the deer that
he would sometimes keep it on his lap or, when sleeping, on his
chest. In this way he felt great pleasure in fondling the animal.

PURPORT

Maharaja Bharata left his home. wife. children. kingdom and every-
thing else to advance his spiritual life in the forest. but again he fell vic-
tim 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 Krsna. Sometimes. in order to preach.
we have to accept many material activities. but we should remember that
everything is for Krsna. If we remember this. there is no chance of our
being victimized by material activities.
