302 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 8
execute their spiritual duties so that whoever comes will automatically
become a devotee and will be able to return back to Godhead in this very
life. Although Bharata Maharaja acquired the body of a deer, he again
left his hearth and home, in this case the Mountain Kalafijara. No one
should be captivated by his birthplace and family; one should take
shelter of the association of devotees and cultivate Krsna consciousness.
TEXT 31
e ¢
afarae ae steam: agra waafsa acnaea: ISHIMT-
qi __s °
qaen = ada aafferaaaa | aT
¢
aateeteayeaas | 38 UI
tasminn api kdlam pratiksamanah sargac ca bhrsam udvigna atma-
sahacarah suska-parna-trna-virudha vartamano mrgatva-
nimitta@vasdnam eva ganayan mrga-sariram tirthodaka-klinnam ut-
sasarja.
tasmin api—in that asrama (Pulaha-asrama): kalam—the end of the
duration of life in the deer body: pratiksamanah—always waiting for;
sangat—from association; ca—and; bhrsam—constantly: udvignah—
full of anxiety: Gtma-sahacarah—having the Supersoul as the only con-
stant companion (no one should think of being alone); Suska-parna-
trna-virudha —by eating only the dry leaves and herbs: vartamanah—
existing; mrgatva-nimitta —of the cause of a deer’s body; avasénam—
the end; eva—only; ganayan—considering; mrga-sariram—the body of
a deer; tirtha-udaka-klinnam—bathing in the water of that holy place:
utsasarja—gave up.
TRANSLATION
Remaining in that asrama, the great King Bharata Maharaja was
now very careful not to fall victim to bad association. Without dis-
closing his past to anyone, he remained in that asrama and ate dry
leaves only. He was not exactly alone, for he had the association of
the Supersoul. In this way he waited for death in the body of a
deer. Bathing in that holy place, he finally gave up that body.
