SB 5.8.28

SB 5.8.28

Devanagari

तत्रापि ह वा आत्मनो मृगत्वकारणं भगवदाराधनसमीहानुभावेनानुस्मृत्य भृशमनुतप्यमान आह ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaṁ bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhānubhāvenānusmṛtya bhṛśam anutapyamāna āha.

Synonyms

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 .

Translation

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.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

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.

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.