FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.8.14

क्रियायां निर्वर्त्यमानायामन्तरालेऽप्युत्थायोत्थाय यदैनमभिचक्षीत तर्हि वाव स वर्षपति: प्रकृतिस्थेन मनसा तस्मा आशिष आशास्ते स्वस्ति स्ताद्वत्स ते सर्वत इति ॥ १४ ॥
kriyāyāṁ nirvartyamānāyām antarāle ’py utthāyotthāya yadainam abhicakṣīta tarhi vāva sa varṣa-patiḥ prakṛti-sthena manasā tasmā āśiṣa āśāste svasti stād vatsa te sarvata iti.
[kriyaayaam nirvartyamaanaayaam antaraale ’py utthaayotthaaya yadainam abhichaksheeta tarhi vaava sa varsha-patih prakriti-sthena manasaa tasmaa aashisha aashaaste svasti staad vatsa te sarvata iti.]
Word-for-word
kriyāyām — the activities of worshiping the Lord or performing ritualistic ceremonies nirvartyamānāyām — even without finishing antarāle — at intervals in the middle api — although utthāya utthāya — repeatedly getting up yadā — when enam — the deer calf abhicakṣīta — would see tarhi vāva — at that time saḥ — he varṣa-patiḥ — Mahārāja Bharata prakṛti-sthena — happy manasā — within his mind tasmai — unto it āśiṣaḥ āśāste — bestows benedictions svasti — all auspiciousness stāt — let there be vatsa — O my dear calf te — unto you sarvataḥ — in all respects iti — thus.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kriyāyāṁ nirvartyamānāyām antarāle ’py utthāyotthāya yadainam abhicakṣīta tarhi vāva sa varṣa-patiḥ prakṛti-sthena manasā tasmā āśiṣa āśāste svasti stād vatsa te sarvata iti.
kriyāyām
the activities of worshiping the Lord or performing ritualistic ceremonies
nirvartyamānāyām
even without finishing
antarāle
at intervals in the middle
api
although
utthāya utthāya
repeatedly getting up
yadā
when
enam
the deer calf
abhicakṣīta
would see
tarhi vāva
at that time
saḥ
he
varṣa-patiḥ
Mahārāja Bharata
prakṛti-sthena
happy
manasā
within his mind
tasmai
unto it
āśiṣaḥ āśāste
bestows benedictions
svasti
all auspiciousness
stāt
let there be
vatsa
O my dear calf
te
unto you
sarvataḥ
in all respects
iti
thus.
When Mahārāja Bharata was actually worshiping the Lord or was engaged in some ritualistic ceremony, although his activities were unfinished, he would still, at intervals, get up and see where the deer was. In this way he would look for it, and when he could see that the deer was comfortably situated, his mind and heart would be very satisfied, and he would bestow his blessings upon the deer, saying, “My dear calf, may you be happy in all respects.”
Purport

Because his attraction for the deer was so intense, Bharata Mahārāja could not concentrate upon worshiping the Lord or performing his ritualistic ceremonies. Even though he was engaged in worshiping the Deity, his mind was restless due to his inordinate affection. While trying to meditate, he would simply think of the deer, wondering where it had gone. In other words, if one’s mind is distracted from worship, a mere show of worship will not be of any benefit. The fact that Bharata Mahārāja had to get up at intervals to look for the deer was simply a sign that he had fallen down from the spiritual platform.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When, in the midst of performing worship of the Lord, he would rise and gaze at the deer, Bharata would offer blessings to the deer with mind joyful on seeing it. “O young deer! All blessings to you!” While performing worship of the Lord he would think, “I do not know where the deer has gone.” He would rise and look. Prakṛti-sthena means “recovering himself, gaining bliss on seeing the deer.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
When the mind is somewhere else during worship, the worship is hollow. Bharata kept jumping up to check on the deer — outwardly worshiping, inwardly elsewhere. The location of the mind during sādhana is the real measure of sādhana.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is your mind actually going during your daily worship or chanting?
  • What recurring 'deer check' interrupts your absorption, and how could you address it directly?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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