Text 14] Rahigana Converses with Jada Bharata 421
aradhanam bhagavata ihamdno
mrgo *bhavarh mrga-sarnigad dhatarthah

aham—l; purad—formerly (in my previous birth): bharatah nama
raja—a King named Maharaja Bharata; vimukta—liberated from: drsta-
Sruta —by experiencing personally through direct association, or by get-
ting knowledge from the Vedas; sariga-bandhah—bondage by associ-
ation; @rddhanam—the worship; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, Vasudeva; ihama@nah—always performing; mrgah
abhavam—I became a deer; mrga-sarigat—because of my intimate asso-
ciation with a deer; hata-arthah—having neglected the regulative prin-
ciples in the discharge of devotional service.

TRANSLATION

In a previous birth I was known as Maharaja Bharata. I attained
perfection by becoming completely detached from material ac-
tivities through direct experience, and through indirect ex-
perience I received understanding from the Vedas. I was fully
engaged in the service of the Lord, but due to my misfortune, I
became very affectionate to a small deer, so much so that I
neglected my spiritual duties. Due to my deep affection for the
deer, in my next life I had to accept the body of a deer.

PURPORT

The incident herein described is very significant. In a previous verse
it is stated, vind mahat-pdada-rajo- bhisekam: one cannot attain perfec-
tion without smearing the dust from the lotus feet of an exalted devotee
on his head. If one always follows the orders of the spiritual master.
there is no question of falling down. As soon as a foolish disciple tries to
overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post.
he immediately falls down. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi. If the spiritual master is considered an
ordinary man, the disciple surely loses his chance to advance further.
Despite a very rigid life in devotional service, Bharata Maharaja did not
consult a spiritual master when he became overly attached to a deer.
Consequently he became strongly attached to the deer. and. forgetting
his spiritual routine, he fell down.
