Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.8.31

tasminn api kālam pratīkshamānah sańgāc ca bhriśam udvigna ātma-sahacarah śushka-parna-trina-vīrudhā vartamāno mrigatva-nimittāvasānam eva ganayan mriga-śarīram tīrthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja

SYNONYMS

tasmin api — in that āśrama (Pulaha-āśrama); kālam — the end of the duration of life in the deer body; pratīkshamānah — always waiting for; sańgāt — from association; ca — and; bhriśam — constantly; udvignah — full of anxiety; ātma-sahacarah — having the Supersoul as the only constant companion (no one should think of being alone); śushka-parna-trina-vīrudhā — by eating only the dry leaves and herbs; vartamānah — existing; mrigatva-nimitta — of the cause of a deer's body; avasānam — the end; eva — only; ganayan — considering; mriga-śarīram — the body of a deer; tīrtha-udaka-klinnam — bathing in the water of that holy place; utsasarja — gave up.

TRANSLATION

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 Vrindāvana, Hardwar, Prayāga and Jagannātha Purī are especially meant for the execution of devotional service. Vrindāvana specifically is the most exalted and preferred holy place for Vaishnava devotees of Lord Krishna who are aspiring to return back to Godhead, the Vaikuntha planets. There are many devotees in Vrindāvana 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."

<<< >>>

Copyright ©r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness