Fifth Canto Chapter Eight

In this chapter, Bharata being reborn as a deer is explained.

Maharishi Śuka continued the narration, “O Parikshit, Bharata who was leading a pure ascetic life one morning bathed in the River Gandaki and completed all the obligatory rituals. For close to two hours he sat on the river banks chanting the sacred Omkara mantra.

Around that time a female deer, being very thirsty, came to the river to quench its thirst. As it was drinking water, a ferocious roar of a lion could be heard from close quarters. The roar echoed in all directions.

A deer is always frightened and timid by nature. This deer too started trembling with intense fear. With an agitated mind, it began to look in all directions with its timid eyes. Without even quenching its thirst it jumped into the waters in fear.

This female deer was pregnant. When it suddenly leaped into the river, its baby slipped from the womb and fell into the river. As it is the female deer has been separated from its flock. Now it had miscarried. Due to these two reasons it was deeply agitated and distressed. It ran towards a mountain cave. Upon reaching there it fell down dead. The fawn, which was separated from its mother immediately upon birth, was helplessly being carried away by the river waters. Bharata, the saintly king, saw it and was deeply distressed. He was filled with compassion. Immediately he held the fawn in hands and like a close relative rescued it and brought it to the ashram.

Bharata developed deep attachment towards the fawn. The attachment deepened. He now began to fetch and supply its daily food. He protected it from wild animals and lovingly cajoled it every day. He was always anxious about its welfare and strived for its happiness. Apart from this there was no other thought. As a result Ahimsa and other Yama disciplines, cleanliness and other disciplines known as Niyama and worship and other rituals gradually disappeared one after another from him. As the days went by he had forgotten all the disciplines.

Bharata then began to think as follows, “Oho, this time which moves at rapid speeds has distanced this helpless little fawn from its flock. Bereft of all its relatives, this fawn has now associated with me. This helpless fawn has sought total refuge in me. It considers me as its parent, sibling, friend and relative. It has none apart from me in this creation and hence does not trust anyone apart from me. Therefore without caring for the obstacles I shall strive for its welfare. I shall dedicatedly and lovingly nourish it and attend to it. I am aware that it is wrong to refuse a person who seeks shelter. Hence it is my duty to look after its welfare. Mahatmas and other noble souls always strive for the welfare of the helpless. At such times they display great patience and care.”

Bharata, who began to think in these lines, was tied down completely by the noose known as love for the deer. Whether he walked, sat, slept or ate the fawn was always beside him. He was never alone. When he would go into the forests to fetch grass, flowers, fruits, leaves, firewood, roots and when he would go to fetch drinking water, he would be focused only upon the fawn’s safety. He would worry that wolves, wild dogs and other wild animals could harm the fawn in his absence. Hence to ensure its safety he would take the fawn with him into the forests.

When he had to cross the murky waters in the forests, he would lovingly carry the helpless deer on his shoulders. He would lovingly seat the fawn on his lap. At other time he would keep it on his chest and lovingly play with it. In this he derived immense bliss. Many a times he would stop his work midway and watch the playful activities of the fawn. For long periods of time he would be lost in that joy. Wherever he went and whatever he did his attention was on that fawn.

He had forgotten all his other duties. He had forgotten his prayers and other rituals. His mind obtained great delight when he was in the company of the deer. He would affectionately bless the deer, “My dear son, may you always be blessed with auspiciousness”.

If the fawn was out of his sight he would grieve like a miser who has lost his wealth. He would be deeply agitated and distressed. His mind experienced untold agony at such times. Deeply lamenting for the deer, Bharata who was totally infatuated towards it, would say,

“Alas, it is a motherless and helpless fawn. I am a wicked sinner. My mind has cheated me. I am not a meritorious noble person. That innocent fawn trusted me completely without caring for my negative and sinful behavior. I have let it down. Although I have not been sincere towards it, will this fawn return safely back to me? Will God ensure its protection when it is alone? Will I see it happily grazing here in the gardens of the ashram? I hope wolves, wild dogs, jackals or lion have not swallowed this fawn.

The Sun God, who is the personification of the Vedas and who rises solely for the well-being of all living entities, is about is set. In this darkness can this fawn find its way home? Its mother had entrusted it to my care before her death. Will it return back home and with its frolicking tricks cause my joy? I do not know if I have any balance of merit left in me that would enable me to further enjoy its playful games. I do not know if I am fortunate to play with it again.

When I pretentiously close my eyes as if I am in deep meditation, it also feigns to be frightened. It then lovingly hits me with its tender horns so as to disturb my meditation. Its tender horns are as delicate as drops of water.

When it disturbs the homa offerings that are arranged on the kuśa grass, I am angered. Instantly it stops all its playful activities and in fear just sits in a corner. At that moment it appears like a sage’s son, who is seated motionless after withdrawing all his senses.

This earth is a pure pious place. How much penance earth must have performed to be fortunate that the imprints of the tender lotus feet of the pious fawn are seen on it! These imprints are clearly visible to me. I am able to see the path taken by the fawn. Its hoofs are tender and beautiful. This fawn is now my only asset. Where is it?” In this way Bharata was totally attached and infatuated with the deer.

Krishna.