Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.8.26
Ūti· What drives us to actCorrection Restores Devotional Purpose
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, in this way Bharata Mahārāja was overwhelmed by an uncontrollable desire which was manifest in the form of the deer. Due to the fruitive results of his past deeds, he fell down from mystic yoga, austerity and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If it were not due to his past fruitive activity, how could he have been attracted to the deer after giving up the association of his own son and family, considering them stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual life? How could he show such uncontrollable affection for a deer? This was definitely due to his past karma. The King was so engrossed in petting and maintaining the deer that he fell down from his spiritual activities. In due course of time, insurmountable death, which is compared to a venomous snake that enters the hole created by a mouse, situated itself before him.”
What the purport teaches
- Bharata Mahārāja became so absorbed in maintaining the deer that he neglected worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Death approached while he was engrossed in that attachment.
- The purport explains that his deer body was not punishment for past karma, but a brief correction for his purposeful neglect of spiritual advancement.
- He retained his memory, and his desire for mature devotional service increased. This correction was meant to bring him to pure devotional service.
Try this today
Resume one small act of devotional service that you have been putting aside.
Ask yourself
Am I knowingly allowing an attachment to displace devotional service?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.