FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.8.13

पथिषु च मुग्धभावेन तत्र तत्र विषक्तमतिप्रणयभरहृदय: कार्पण्यात्स्कन्धेनोद्वहति एवमुत्सङ्ग उरसि चाधायोपलालयन्मुदं परमामवाप ॥ १३ ॥
pathiṣu ca mugdha-bhāvena tatra tatra viṣakta-mati-praṇaya-bhara-hṛdayaḥ kārpaṇyāt skandhenodvahati evam utsaṅga urasi cādhāyopalālayan mudaṁ paramām avāpa.
[pathishu cha mugdha-bhaavena tatra tatra vishakta-mati-pranaya-bhara-hridayah kaarpanyaat skandhenodvahati evam utsanga urasi chaadhaayopalaalayan mudam paramaam avaapa.]
Word-for-word
pathiṣu — on the forest paths ca — also mugdha-bhāvena — by the childish behavior of the deer tatra tatra — here and there viṣakta-mati — whose mind was too much attracted praṇaya — with love bhara — loaded hṛdayaḥ — whose heart kārpaṇyāt — because of affection and love skandhena — by the shoulder udvahati — carries evam — in this way utsaṅge — sometimes on the lap urasi — on the chest while sleeping ca — also ādhāya — keeping upalālayan — fondling mudam — pleasure paramām — very great avāpa — he felt.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pathiṣu ca mugdha-bhāvena tatra tatra viṣakta-mati-praṇaya-bhara-hṛdayaḥ kārpaṇyāt skandhenodvahati evam utsaṅga urasi cādhāyopalālayan mudaṁ paramām avāpa.
pathiṣu
on the forest paths
ca
also
mugdha-bhāvena
by the childish behavior of the deer
tatra tatra
here and there
viṣakta-mati
whose mind was too much attracted
praṇaya
with love
bhara
loaded
hṛdayaḥ
whose heart
kārpaṇyāt
because of affection and love
skandhena
by the shoulder
udvahati
carries
evam
in this way
utsaṅge
sometimes on the lap
urasi
on the chest while sleeping
ca
also
ādhāya
keeping
upalālayan
fondling
mudam
pleasure
paramām
very great
avāpa
he felt.
When entering the forest, the animal would appear very attractive to Mahārāja Bharata due to its childish behavior. Mahārāja Bharata would even take the deer on his shoulders and carry it due to affection. His heart was so filled with great love for the deer that he would sometimes keep it on his lap or, when sleeping, on his chest. In this way he felt great pleasure in fondling the animal.
Purport

Mahārāja Bharata left his home, wife, children, kingdom and everything else to advance his spiritual life in the forest, but again he fell victim to material affection due to his attachment to an insignificant pet deer. What, then, was the use of his renouncing his family? One who is serious in advancing his spiritual life should be very cautious not to become attached to anything but Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes, in order to preach, we have to accept many material activities, but we should remember that everything is for Kṛṣṇa. If we remember this, there is no chance of our being victimized by material activities.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
His mind filled with affection and attachment as he walked here and there in the forest, unaware of the dangers, he would carry the deer on his shoulders since it was helpless, or keep it on his lap or chest. Petting the deer, he felt great bliss. He would walk on the muddy earth, where there was grass for the deer. He was unaware that the he may sink in the mud (mugdha-bhāvena). He was attached (viṣakta).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Bharata gave up wife, children, kingdom, and ended up clinging to a pet deer. The smallest unwatched attachment can undo the largest renunciation. There is no 'safely small' attraction once the heart is set on Kṛṣṇa alone.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'safely small' attachment in your life would, in honesty, undo years of spiritual work if it grew?
  • Where do you mistake the size of the object for the size of the danger?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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