Text 29] The Character of Bharata Maharaja 299

aho kastam—alas, what a miserable condition of life: bhrastah—
fallen; aham—I (am): dtma-vatam—of great devotees who have
achieved perfection; anupathat—from the way of life; yat—from
which; vimukta-samasta-sangasya —although having given up the asso-
ciation of my real sons and home; vivikta—solitary; punya-aranya —of
a sacred forest: Saranasya—who had taken shelter; atma-vatah—of one
who had become perfectly situated on the transcendental platform; at-
mani—in the Supersoul; sarvesam—of all: Gtmanam—living entities:
bhagavati—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vasudeve—Lord
Vasudeva; tat—of Him; anusravana—constantly hearing; manana—
thinking; sankirtana—chanting; dradhana —worshiping:
anusmarana—constantly remembering: abhiyogena—by absorption in:
asinya—filled; sakala-yamena—in which all the hours: kalena—by
time; samdvesitam—fully established: samdhitam—fixed; karts-
nyena—totally; manah—the mind in such a situation: tat—that mind;
tu—but; punah—again; mama—of me: abudhasya—a great fool:
aradt—from a great distance; mrga-sutam—the son of a deer: anu—
being affected by; parisusréva—fell down.

TRANSLATION

In the body of a deer, Bharata Maharaja began to lament: What
misfortune! I have fallen from the path of the self-realized. I gave
up my real sons, wife and home to advance in spiritual life, and I
took shelter in a solitary holy place in the forest. I became self-
controlled and self-realized, and I engaged constantly in devo-
tional service, hearing, thinking, chanting, worshiping and
remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. |
was successful in my attempt, so much so that my mind was always
absorbed in devotional service. However, due to my personal
foolishness, my mind again became attached —this time to a deer.
Now I have obtained the body of a deer and have fallen far from
my devotional practices.

PURPORT

Bue to his stringent execution of devotional service. Maharaja Bharata

could remember the activities of his past life and how he was raised to
