FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.8.31

Devanagari
tasminn api kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ saṅgāc ca bhṛśam udvigna ātma-sahacaraḥ śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā vartamāno mṛgatva-nimittāvasānam eva gaṇayan mṛga-śarīraṁ tīrthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja.
[tasminn api kaalam prateekshamaanah sangaach cha bhrisham udvigna aatma-sahacharah shushka-parna-trina-veerudhaa vartamaano mrigatva-nimittaavasaanam eva ganayan mriga-shareeram teerthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja.]
Word-for-word
tasmin api — in that āśrama (Pulaha-āśrama) kālam — the end of the duration of life in the deer body pratīkṣamāṇaḥ — always waiting for saṅgāt — from association ca — and bhṛśam — constantly udvignaḥ — full of anxiety ātma-sahacaraḥ — having the Supersoul as the only constant companion (no one should think of being alone) śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā — by eating only the dry leaves and herbs vartamānaḥ — existing mṛgatva-nimitta — of the cause of a deer’s body avasānam — the end eva — only gaṇayan — considering mṛga-śarīram — the body of a deer tīrtha-udaka-klinnam — bathing in the water of that holy place utsasarja — gave up.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasminn api kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ saṅgāc ca bhṛśam udvigna ātma-sahacaraḥ śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā vartamāno mṛgatva-nimittāvasānam eva gaṇayan mṛga-śarīraṁ tīrthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja.
tasmin api
in that āśrama (Pulaha-āśrama)
kālam
the end of the duration of life in the deer body
pratīkṣamāṇaḥ
always waiting for
saṅgāt
from association
ca
and
bhṛśam
constantly
udvignaḥ
full of anxiety
ātma-sahacaraḥ
having the Supersoul as the only constant companion (no one should think of being alone)
śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā
by eating only the dry leaves and herbs
vartamānaḥ
existing
mṛgatva-nimitta
of the cause of a deer’s body
avasānam
the end
eva
only
gaṇayan
considering
mṛga-śarīram
the body of a deer
tīrtha-udaka-klinnam
bathing in the water of that holy place
utsasarja
gave up.
Remaining in that āśrama, the great King Bharata Mahārāja was now very careful not to fall victim to bad association. Without disclosing his past to anyone, he remained in that āśrama and ate dry leaves only. He was not exactly alone, for he had the association of the Supersoul. In this way he waited for death in the body of a deer. Bathing in that holy place, he finally gave up that body.
Purport

Holy places like Vṛndāvana, Hardwar, Prayāga and Jagannātha Purī are especially meant for the execution of devotional service. Vṛndāvana specifically is the most exalted and preferred holy place for Vaiṣṇava devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa who are aspiring to return back to Godhead, the Vaikuṇṭha planets. There are many devotees in Vṛndāvana who regularly bathe in the Yamunā, and this cleanses all the contamination of the material world. By constantly chanting and hearing the holy names and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, one certainly becomes purified and becomes a fit candidate for liberation. However, if one purposefully falls victim to sense gratification, he has to be punished, at least for one lifetime, like Bharata Mahārāja.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “A Description of the Character of Bharata Mahārāja.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In that place, waiting for his death, greatly disturbed by bad association, taking Paramātmā as his companion, subsisting on dry leaves, grass and bushes, bathing in the holy water, and calculating how to end the cause of taking a deer body, he finally gave up that deer body. Thus ends the commentary on the Eighth Chapter of the Fifth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas. Chapter Nine Jaḍa Bharata Is Protected by Kālī
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Bharata in his last days as a deer remained alert against bad association, ate sparingly, and stayed near the Supersoul, awaiting death without complaint. Even in a difficult form, the devotee turns the situation toward Kṛṣṇa. There is no body in which devotion cannot continue.
Reflection Questions
  • Whatever your current 'form' — your health, role, limitations — how are you using it toward Kṛṣṇa?
  • What would it look like to stay alert against bad association even in a season of weakness?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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