FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.45

यज्ञाय धर्मपतये विधिनैपुणाययोगाय साङ्ख्यशिरसे प्रकृतीश्वराय नारायणाय हरये नम इत्युदारंहास्यन्मृगत्वमपि य: समुदाजहार ॥ ४५ ॥
yajñāya dharma-pataye vidhi-naipuṇāya
[yajnaaya dharma-pataye vidhi-naipunaaya]
yogāya sāṅkhya-śirase prakṛtīśvarāya
[yogaaya saankhya-shirase prakriteeshvaraaya]
nārāyaṇāya haraye nama ity udāraṁ
[naaraayanaaya haraye nama ity udaaram]
hāsyan mṛgatvam api yaḥ samudājahāra
[haasyan mrigatvam api yah samudaajahaara]
yajñāya — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who enjoys the results of all great sacrifices dharma-pataye — unto the master or propounder of religious principles vidhi-naipuṇāya — who gives the devotee the intelligence to follow the regulative principles expertly yogāya — the personification of mystic yoga sāṅkhya-śirase — who taught the Sāṅkhya philosophy or who actually gives knowledge of Sāṅkhya to the people of the world prakṛti-īśvarāya — the supreme controller of this cosmic manifestation nārāyaṇāya — the resting place of the innumerable living entities (nara means the living entities, and ayana means the shelter) haraye — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Hari namaḥ — respectful obeisances iti — thus udāram — very loudly hāsyan — smiling mṛgatvam api — although in the body of a deer yaḥ — who samudājahāra — chanted.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yajñāya dharma-pataye vidhi-naipuṇāya
yajñāya
unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who enjoys the results of all great sacrifices
dharma-pataye
unto the master or propounder of religious principles
vidhi-naipuṇāya
who gives the devotee the intelligence to follow the regulative principles expertly
yogāya sāṅkhya-śirase prakṛtīśvarāya
yogāya
the personification of mystic yoga
sāṅkhya-śirase
who taught the Sāṅkhya philosophy or who actually gives knowledge of Sāṅkhya to the people of the world
prakṛti-īśvarāya
the supreme controller of this cosmic manifestation
nārāyaṇāya haraye nama ity udāraṁ
nārāyaṇāya
the resting place of the innumerable living entities (nara means the living entities, and ayana means the shelter)
haraye
unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Hari
namaḥ
respectful obeisances
iti
thus
udāram
very loudly
hāsyan mṛgatvam api yaḥ samudājahāra
hāsyan
smiling
mṛgatvam api
although in the body of a deer
yaḥ
who
samudājahāra
chanted.
Even though in the body of a deer, Mahārāja Bharata did not forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore when he was giving up the body of a deer, he loudly uttered the following prayer: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is sacrifice personified. He gives the results of ritualistic activity. He is the protector of religious systems, the personification of mystic yoga, the source of all knowledge, the controller of the entire creation, and the Supersoul in every living entity. He is beautiful and attractive. I am quitting this body offering obeisances unto Him and hoping that I may perpetually engage in His transcendental loving service.” Uttering this, Mahārāja Bharata left his body.

The entire Vedas are meant for the understanding of karma, jñāna and yoga — fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and mystic yoga. Whatever way of spiritual realization we accept, the ultimate goal is Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The living entities are eternally connected with Him via devotional service. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ: the perfection of life is to remember Nārāyaṇa at the time of death. Although Bharata Mahārāja had to accept the body of a deer, he could remember Nārāyaṇa at the time of death. Consequently he took birth as a perfect devotee in a brāhmaṇa family. This confirms the statement of Bhagavad-gītā (6.41) , śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo ’bhijāyate: “One who falls from the path of self-realization takes birth in a family of brāhmaṇas or wealthy aristocrats.” Although Mahārāja Bharata appeared in the royal family, he became neglectful and took birth as a deer. Because he was very cautious within his deer body, he took birth in a brāhmaṇa family as Jaḍa Bharata. During this lifetime, he remained perfectly Kṛṣṇa conscious and preached the gospel of Kṛṣṇa consciousness directly, beginning with his instructions to Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa. In this regard, the word yogāya is very significant. The purpose of aṣṭāṅga-yoga, as stated by Madhvācārya, is to link or connect with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The goal is not to display some material perfections.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
I offer respects to the personification of sacrifice, the master of dharma, who is skilful in the rules for sacrifice, to the personification of yoga, to the head of Sāṅkhya, to the Lord of prakṛti, to Nārāyaṇa, to Hari. Wanting to give up his deer body, he chanted loudly this prayer. In three lines, successively karma, jñāna and bhakti are glorified for having greater and greater excellence. I offer respects to the Lord who is expert in the rules for sacrifice (vidhi-naipuṇāya). While desiring to give up (hāsyan) his deer body, not at the time of death, he chanted, since the Lord would make him take birth again to perfect his bhakti.
Even in a deer's body, Bharata kept remembering Nārāyaṇa, and at the moment of leaving even that body he loudly prayed. Sustained remembrance survives every degradation of form. Keep grooving the remembrance now, against any future shape.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'groove' of remembrance are you laying down now that could survive even severe future conditions?
  • What single prayer, repeated daily, could become your final word in any body?
📝 My note

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