Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.8.28

tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaḿ 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.

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.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness