Verse: Srimad Bhagvatam 5.8.22
Transcription: HG Soumya Radhika Dasi
Edited: HG Shyam Dulari Dasi and HG Amitabh Krishna Das
āsādita-haviṣi barhiṣi dūṣite
mayopālabdho bhīta-bhītaḥ
sapady uparata-rāsa ṛṣi-
kumāravad avahita-karaṇa-kalāpa āste
TRANSLATION BY HIS DIVINE GRACE SRILA PRABHUPADA
When I placed all the sacrificial ingredients on the kusa grass, the deer, when playing, would touch the grass with its teeth and thus pollute it. When I chastised the deer by pushing it away, it would immediately become fearful and sit down motionless, exactly like the son of a saintly person. Thus, it would stop its play.
PURPORT BY HIS DIVINE GRACE SRILA PRABHUPADA
Bharat Maharaja was constantly thinking of the activities of the deer, forgetting that such meditation and diversion of attention was killing his progress in his spiritual achievement.
LECTURE
This is the story or history of one of the most illustrious kings of this world who once ruled the entire earth planet. This planet, which was previously known as Ilavrta Varsha was later known as Bharata Varsha, so we can see what an exalted personality Bharata Maharaja was. He was the son of an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was the son of Rishabhadeva, an incarnation, an empowered incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is described how Bharata Maharaja, after ruling the kingdom for many years, retired.
This is the Vedic culture that everyone at some point in time needs to retire from family life. Whether he’s a king or an ordinary householder, one must retire because someday we all have to leave this planet, and when we leave this planet, we should be free from all attachments. Vedic culture teaches us to become detached from material attachment. Material attachments keep us in the material nature -- so much so that at the time of death, if we have any single attachment, we’ll have to come back. And Bharata Maharaja’s story is very nicely describing that possibility.
Bharata Maharaja was a king, but not an ordinary king. He was the ruler of the entire earth planet, including the oceans. Not only the land part, but he was also the ruler of the ocean of this planet. He left his kingdom and went to the forest. On the bank of the Gandaki River, he settled in his ashram. Thus, when one would retire, he would go to the forest and select a nice spot in a holy place. They would always make it a point, to go to some holy place on the bank of the holy river. Gandaki is the river where the salagrama appears, and on the bank of the Gandaki river, he created his tapovana.
Tapovana means a garden in the middle of the forest for performing spiritual activities. He was in the forest, but he created a nice garden with flowers and fruit trees for worshiping the lord - simple but very conducive to spiritual activities and also far from the maddening crowd. Bharata Maharaja just became absorbed in Krishna consciousness. He reached the stage of bhava, just before reaching the stage of prema. Now the stage of prema is the stage of spiritual perfection. “Prema pumartho mahan.” So, he reached the stage of experiencing spiritual emotion in his loving relationship with Krishna. In this stage, you are constantly serving Krishna, thinking about Krishna, and remembering Krishna.
At that stage one day, when Bharata Maharaja was meditating on the lotus feet of the Lord, he saw that a mother deer became afraid of the sound of a roaring lion, and out of that fear she tried to jump across the river. She fell and died while the baby deer got carried away in the river water. Bharata Maharaja rescued that newborn baby deer and considered: this orphan doesn’t really have anyone to take care of him; therefore, he started taking care of that deer. And the proof is that he becomes attached to the deer.
This is how involving this illusory energy of the world, maya, is. Bharata Maharaja left everything; he left his kingdom, his queens, his children, his wealth, and his comfortable life. He left everything and came to the forest to cultivate his Krishna consciousness, yet at such an advanced stage he became attached to the deer as a result of that attachment.
Anyway, that we will discuss afterwards -- but here we see how attached he became to the deer. That is the thing, like our attachment is often reciprocal. We find the object of attachment is so alluring, just like the mother who finds her baby to be so attractive, the husband who finds his wife to be so attractive, and a friend who finds his friend to be so attractive. Even a little deer can appear to be so attractive. Like the activities of the deer, sometimes the deer would playfully go out into the forest, and Bharata Maharaja would become so concerned because the forest is full of wild animals, and often those innocent animals like deer become victims of the carnivorous animals. He would be afraid, thinking, “Oh, did some lion or tiger attack it, kill it?” In this way Bharata Maharaja became concerned about the deer. Whenever the deer would just dance in front of him in his childish way, playfully, Bharata Maharaja would think “Oh, this deer is so beautiful.” His heart would go out for that deer.
Here is another description: Bharata Maharaja arranged all the paraphernalia for the lord and placed it on a banana leaf plate and then the deer would come by and start to bite the leaf. That is how it became polluted because the offering of the lord shouldn’t be touched by anything or anybody, especially by mouth. Bharata Maharaja would get upset and chastise him and push him away, and at that time what would the deer do? The deer would think, “Oh, my master has chastised me; he’s upset with me now. What did I do wrong that you chastise me like this?” And then the little deer would sit down motionless. “If he’s upset, why did he chastise me?” Now for Bharat Maharaja, that silent situation of the deer sitting there motionless would appear like rishi kumara, the son or the disciple of a rishi or sage. Just like in his meditation, he sits motionless, so that is how he saw this little deer as well. And in this way, Bharata Maharaja started to become attached to the deer. As a result of this attachment, at the time of his death, Bharata Maharaja thought of this deer and got the body of a deer in his next life.
[BG 8.6]
yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
“With whatever thought one leaves his body accordingly he gets his next body.”
Actually, the point here is that one’s last thoughts at the time of death, the very last thought would be what our deepest attachment is. Therefore, we should be very careful where we develop our real attachment. Because at the time of death, that is how it will work. We have two material bodies. One is the gross material body and the other is the subtle material body. As we act, accordingly the subtle material body takes its shape. Wherever we develop attachments, accordingly, the subtle body takes its shape. In the case of Bharata Maharaja, it becomes so clear -- we can see that although apparently his subtle material body was free from all other influences, this little attachment became so predominant. His subtle material body took the shape of a deer. That is what happens according to our karma and according to our action. The subtle material body takes its shape, and after we leave the body, this gross body dies, but the subtle body doesn’t die. The subtle body carries the soul to the next body. Mother Nature actually makes that arrangement. Accordingly, Mother Nature puts that living entity in an appropriate womb.
As a result, Bharata Maharaja’s subtle body took its shape as a deer and was placed in the womb of a deer. Hence, he got the body of a deer. Fortunately, this is another lesson; one lesson we learn from Bharata Maharaja is an anecdote. As we develop our attachment, accordingly we will get our next body. The other thing that we learn from this is that the spiritual advancement one makes doesn’t go in vain -- that remains. Bharata Maharaja’s spirit soul was very advanced, but unfortunately, he got another material body (the body of a deer) although in the body of the deer, he remembered all his past life. He was a “jati smara”, which means one who can remember his past life. So Bharata Maharaja could remember how he got his deer body. Therefore, he didn’t want to make any mistake again. He didn’t want to develop any attachment to anybody. Soon after his birth he left the association of his mother and other deer. He went to the ashrams of saintly persons.
He left his mundane association and went to saintly association. As a deer, of course he couldn’t express himself, but he would just sit there and listen when the sadhus would discuss about Krishna or discuss on Krishna Conscious topics. In this way, he stayed in the deer body, but later he got a body of a pure devotee.
He was now born in a brahminical family as Jada Bharat, but there also Bharata Maharaja would act as though he was mentally retarded. He behaved as if he didn’t have any intelligence, as if he were stupid and couldn’t speak, etc. He started to act like a retarded person, but this life was the perfect life of a pure devotee. This is how we see the Srimad Bhagavatam trains us in the perfect understanding on how we should act and how we shouldn’t act.
When we see things in the light of these instructions of the Srimad Bhagavatam, we see how dangerously people are living now. We see how people are becoming fond of dogs. They don’t realize that though they think that a dog is man’s best friend, this thought is leading them to a dangerous situation of being born as a dog in their next lives. There are dogs that are very attractive; they respond very nicely. The other day I was with the cows, and I was seeing the difference between the cow and the dog. The cow actually doesn’t show much reciprocation, even when you are patting her. Sometimes they do but mostly not, sometimes maybe for a short while. The cows love to be tickled here under their chin or on their neck. Otherwise, they don’t really show any kind of attachment, whereas the dog is so attractive when one comes home, the dog jumps and shows so much love for the master. When I was young, I used to be very fond of dogs. We’d always have dogs in the house and they were trained. Now I was thinking of when I was with the cows, and I was seeing the difference between the dogs and the cows. So, people find dogs to be very attractive, but they do not recognize that this attachment can lead them to such a dangerous situation.
Now even if we don’t go that far, to that extent, we still see how people are becoming attached to so many other things. One very common thing is a grandfather becoming attached to his grandchildren. I mean they naturally feel that attraction. The children are very attractive and we naturally develop our attachments. That is why there is such a need of detaching ourselves at some point. That is why in the Vedic culture there is the vanaprastha. The Vedic culture is so scientific. The beginning of life they get to training of how to be detached through bramachari life -- no attachments at all. Brahmacari state of life teaches one to become detached, and after he is done with completing that phase of life, then only he is allowed to enter into the household life. In household life, one is allowed to develop attachments, get involved, and that involvement naturally results in various attachments. They get married, and naturally they get attached to their wives. One get attached to his wife, then come children. Then this attachment takes another shape, and this is how it goes on and on. Therefore, the Vedic culture is “pancha sordhvam vanam vrajet.” When one is 50 years old and children are all grown up, then it’s okay to leave home and go to the forest to detach yourself.
Nowadays, it is not possible to go to the forest and live there. We are not used to that kind of lifestyle, but at least the arrangements are there that one can move into the temple. It’s a different kind of forest; it is a different kind of vana. It is not a tapovan; it is Vrindavan. In the temple, one learns how to develop one’s attachment to Krishna; that is the ultimate attachment. When we develop our attachment to Krishna then we can become free from our material attachments.
Material attachments are based on sense gratification, and sense gratification means whatever is pleasing to our senses we become attracted to that. Some form is pleasing to our eyes we become attracted to that, in this way our senses lead to different attachments - our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and touch. They all develop various attachments. All these material attachments are based on the senses - our mind, gross body, and subtle body.
Our real attachment should be to Krishna; that is where we naturally should be attracted to because we are a part of Him. Therefore, we have to be attached to him. The problem is when we become attached to somebody or something other than Krishna, that is maya. Attachment to Krishna is natural because we are His part; therefore, we must be attached to Him. Just like this finger is a part of this body. If this finger gets cut off, what will we try to do? Immediately, do we throw it away (the cut off finger)? No, we try to keep this cut finger attached to the body. We go to the doctor and start making all kinds of arrangements to keep it attached because it’s a part of the body. If it is separated from the body, the finger doesn’t have any value. Since it’s a part, it should be attached to the body; that is its natural constitution. Similarly, since we are part and parcel of Krishna, we should be attached to Him. There lies our perfection. The ultimate perfection of our existence is our attachment to Krishna, and when we are attached to Krishna then our life is perfect. Our existence is full of meaning. The trouble is when we become detached from Krishna. Since we are conscious beings, we should try to get everything we need to get by being attached to Krishna.
Krishna is sat cit ananda, and because we are part and parcel of Krishna, we are also sat cit ananda. The problem begins when we try to make ourselves sat cit ananda through this body. When we want to make this body sat cit ananada, when we want to make this body eternal or make this body full of knowledge or full of joy, it never works. This is what maya actually is. Trying to make this body sat cit ananda, rather we should try to make this body spiritual. This body can never become spiritual as this body is only material. In order to become spiritual, in order to gain our spiritual identity, we have to become be in our spiritual situation and that happens when you become connected to Krishna. It’s a simple process. Other spiritualists try to achieve that, and when they try to achieve that without being attached to Krishna, that’s when they run into trouble, as it never works. It will never work.
There are bhukti kami, mukti kami, and siddhi kami. In the initial stage, people try to enjoy the material nature, and they try to get their spiritual qualities through material involvement. It doesn’t work, and when it doesn’t work, they want to become liberated from their material bondages. They perform various austerities and penances to become free from material attachments, and when they think they have become free from material attachments they think that they will get their spiritual qualities. That also doesn’t work. The yogis think that by performing yogic material perfection they will get it, but it doesn’t work. The only thing that works is our simple loving relationship with Krishna. It’s a simple process, which begins with surrender or saranagati. All we have to do is surrender to Krishna, and then Krishna will take care of the rest. Krishna will lead us to get connected to Him. Krishna wants us to get connected to Him.
So, if we sincerely surrender ourselves to Him, Krishna will take care of the rest. That’s how simple this process is: e.g. a millionaire’s son who has become separated from his father goes back to his father. Does he have to make his millions separately, or does he inherit his father’s millions? Naturally, he inherits his father’s assets. When we surrender to Krishna, we inherit these spiritual qualities. When we surrender to Krishna, we naturally become free from our material attachment and develop our attachment to Krishna. That is how simple this process is - especially the way Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave it to us, sankirtan, by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Nityananada Prabhu is giving that assurance:
yatheshtam re bhratah kuru hari hari dhvanam anisam
My dear brothers, just chant the holy name of the Lord.
tato vah samsarambudhi tarana dayo mayi laget
Then I will be responsible; muyi laget tarano dayo - responsibility to go across the material nature. I will take you across this material nature.
That is the assurance Nityananda Prabhu is giving. You simply chant the holy name, and I will take care of the rest. I will take you to Krishna - that is the assurance Nityananda is giving. I will take you to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Srila Prabhupada came and gave it not only to us, but he gave it to people all over the world. He made the arrangement to spread this movement all over the world. As the time passes, more and more people will become attracted to Krishna Consciousness through Prabhupada’s teachings. We have to situate them properly in the Krishna Consciousness movement; that is the responsibility of the devotees. People will become attracted, and now we simply have to place them properly in their spiritual life. We shouldn’t think, “Oh, now he is fine, he is chanting 16 rounds, following the 4 regulative principles.” No, this we have to do; it is just the beginning. We have to make them fixed up in their spiritual lives.
That’s why there’s a need for preaching; devotees must preach. Preach to them to make them devotees, and after they become devotees, preach to them to secure them in their spiritual lives. That is why Prabhupada made this program of the Bhagavatam class and Bhagavad Gita class so that these classes will get them fixed up. They get the understanding of the importance of spiritual life. So now that you have come to this wonderful platform of Krishna Consciousness, become fixed up. Take care of your spiritual life and help others to also make spiritual advancement.
Thank you very much, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gaur Premanande Hari Hari bol!
Does anybody have any questions or comments? Basu Ghosh prabhu?
HG Basu Ghosh Prabhu: …..(not clear)
HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja: Yes, that’s why leaders of ISKCON have to protect ISKCON from all these onslaughts, and as you have seen, it is being dealt with.
Deviation can be such a dangerous threat. And that’s why after Mahaprabhu’s time, it should be the lesson for us. Deviation – how it comes? Sahijaya sampradaya – that was started by the leaders of that time.
HG Basu Ghosh Prabhu: ….. (not clear)
HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja: No compromise. That’s why as you said, one should be compassionate and merciful, but at the same time, we should be cautious about how this compassion is displayed. If there is deviation, it should be dealt with properly. Right? People may use the same reasoning: “Oh, you are all Vaishnava; why are you not showing compassion?” The compassion should be displayed in the right place, not at the wrong place else – otherwise that [deviation] will flourish.
HG Basu Ghosh Prabhu:….(not clear)
HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja: Anyway, since we have Basu Ghosh prabhu, we are safe. You have a prominent voice when it comes to upholding Vedic culture.
Will take few questions here. From Giriraj das, Gurgaon
HG Giriraj Prabhu: Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Dandavat Pranam. Thank you for an enlightening class. Guru Maharaj, even when we have this information that Krishna is the real maintainer of everyone, yet even after so many years in Krishna Consciousness, most of the time I still act as a controller and maintainer of my family. Please help me how I can develop the consciousness to see everyone as part and parcel of Krishna and take my role as a service.
HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja: It is not that because you are depending upon Krishna, you should give the responsibility of maintaining your family to Krishna. When you are a householder, you have to take the responsibility of maintaining your family. The only thing that you have to change is to change your attitude. Instead of thinking that it is your family, you have to think that it is Krishna’s family. But the maintenance part is your responsibility. Just as the temple president has the responsibility to maintain the temple and take care of the devotees; in a smaller way, in your household temple, as the temple president, you have the responsibility to take care of all the members of the temple. That way, Giriraj, don’t act as a controller, but act as a caretaker and maintain them to the best of your ability.
HG Krishna Kishore Prabhu, Pune: Dear Guru Maharaj, Dandavat Pranam. It is said that attachment to devotees is perfection. However, sometimes I see how my friendships with devotees tend to become materially motivated, and I become attached to them just based on externals like behaviour, appearance, etc. How to overcome the alluring attachments - developing due to such relationships with the material outlook towards devotees?
HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja: Well, that attraction can be based on material aspect – say, for example, we see the deities in the temple. To a newcomer, he may think, “Oh, the deities are so beautiful.” They may become attracted to the artistic part of the deities – how beautifully they have been carved. But as he makes advancement, then his attraction takes him to a higher level. We may initially become attracted to the beauty of the deity, but then we get to know who they are. Are they just some carved statues? Prabhupada is making that point: why millions of people are coming to the temple? Are they coming just to see the carved statue, or are they coming to see Krishna? So that is the understanding. That material aspect is there, but gradually, we transcend the material aspect and come to the spiritual aspect. Yes, Krishna is all attractive; Krishna is most beautiful. There is no doubt about that. But that attraction is for Krishna.
As long as it is for Krishna, it’s all right. Similarly, as you were saying, attachment to devotees: devotees’ attitude, devotees’ behavior, and devotees’ appearance. Yes, if you are appreciating that, it’s a good thing because you are appreciating a devotee. While others may think that these shaved people look so strange, if you think that this devotee with shaved head and tilak is so beautiful, that’s wonderful. That is spiritual appreciation. In whichever way you appreciate a devotee, it’s spiritually beneficial. It’s already five past nine, so I won’t take more questions. If you have questions, keep them, and I will answer later on. Thank you very much. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
And some words, I won’t say instructions but request to local devotees: Please take care of visiting devotees nicely. How many local devotees are here? How many visiting devotees are here? And lot more will come, so take care of them very nicely as if they have come to your house. When a guest comes to your house, how do you take care? There is a big smile on Radha Vinod’s face. He is always happy to receive guests. Similarly, with a big smile, you receive the visiting devotees, and make their stay in Ujjain so memorable, that they always think, “When am I going to come back to Ujjain and settle here?”
Thank you.
Hare Krishna.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!