FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.8.28

तत्रापि ह वा आत्मनो मृगत्वकारणं भगवदाराधनसमीहानुभावेनानुस्मृत्य भृशमनुतप्यमान आह ॥ २८ ॥
tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaṁ bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhānubhāvenānusmṛtya bhṛśam anutapyamāna āha.
[tatraapi ha vaa aatmano mrigatva-kaaranam bhagavad-aaraadhana-sameehaanubhaavenaanusmritya bhrisham anutapyamaana aaha.]
Word-for-word
tatra api — in that birth ha vā — indeed ātmanaḥ — of himself mṛgatva-kāraṇam — the cause of accepting the body of a deer bhagavat-ārādhana-samīhā — of past activities in devotional service anubhāvena — by consequence anusmṛtya — remembering bhṛśam — always anutapya-mānaḥ — repenting āha — said.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaṁ bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhānubhāvenānusmṛtya bhṛśam anutapyamāna āha.
tatra api
in that birth
ha vā
indeed
ātmanaḥ
of himself
mṛgatva-kāraṇam
the cause of accepting the body of a deer
bhagavat-ārādhana-samīhā
of past activities in devotional service
anubhāvena
by consequence
anusmṛtya
remembering
bhṛśam
always
anutapya-mānaḥ
repenting
āha
said.
Although in the body of a deer, Bharata Mahārāja, due to his rigid devotional service in his past life, could understand the cause of his birth in that body. Considering his past and present life, he constantly repented his activities, speaking in the following way.
Purport

This is a special concession for a devotee. Even if he attains a body that is nonhuman, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead he advances further in devotional service, whether by remembering his past life or by natural causes. It is not easy for a common man to remember the activities of his past life, but Bharata Mahārāja could remember his past activities due to his great sacrifices and engagement in devotional service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
By the influence of his worship of the Lord, he could remember the cause of becoming a deer in this life and he was greatly repentant. He spoke as follows.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Bharata, even as a deer, remembered who he had been and where he had fallen. Genuine devotional work leaves a trace that no degraded form can erase. Investment in bhakti is never lost; only its expression may be temporarily constrained.
Reflection Questions
  • What spiritual investments are you making now that will survive even severe future setbacks?
  • How does the certainty that bhakti accumulates change the urgency of your current practice?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 8