Text 28] The Character of Bharata Maharaja 297

condition at the time of death. After death, others forget everything that
has happened in their past lives, but Bharata Maharaja did not forget.
According to Bhagavad-gita:

yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram

tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad-bhava-bhavitah

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that
state he will attain without fail.” (Bg. 8.6)

After quitting his body, a person gets another body according to his
mental condition at the time of death. At death, a person always thinks of
that subject matter in which he has been engrossed during his life. Ac-
cording to this law, because Bharata Maharaja was always thinking of the
deer and forgetting his worship of the Supreme Lord, he acquired the
body of a deer. However, due to his having been elevated to the topmost
platform of devotional service, he did not forget the incidents of his past
life. This special benediction saved him from further deterioration. Due
to his past activities in devotional service, he became determined to
finish his devotional service even in the body of a deer. It is therefore
said in this verse, mrtam, although he had died, anu, afterwards, na
mrta-janmdnusmrtir itaravat, he did not forget the incidents of his past
life as others forget them. As stated in Brahma-samhita: karmani nir-
dahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam (Bs. 5.54). It is proved herein that due to
the grace of the Supreme Lord, a devotee is never vanquished. Due to his
willful neglect of devotional service, a devotee may be punished for a
short time, but he again revives his devotional service and returns home.

back to Godhead.

TEXT 28

TUT F A ARAM BART WAKA HA
YIAGIMAA AME RII

tatrapi ha va dtmano mrgatva-karanam bhagavad-dradhana-
samihdnubhavenanusmrtya bhrsam anutapyamdna Gha.
