Fruits of Attachment - II

In our previous blog, "Fruits of Attachment - I," we delved into the remarkable tale of King Bharat, a devotee of Lord Narayan. Having renounced his kingdom, family, and all worldly ties in pursuit of God-realization, Bharat ventured into the serenity of the forest. His days were filled with meditation and solitude, but Bharat’s peaceful existence was interrupted by a heart-wrenching scene. He saw a tiny fawn tumbling from its mother’s womb, splashing into the river. Let us continue to unravel the tale of King Bharat and the fawn!

The Fawn's Unexpected Hold

The scene unfolded before Bharat's eyes: a tiny fawn was struggling valiantly against the strong current of the river, its tiny legs thrashing in a desperate attempt to stay afloat.

Compelled by an overwhelming wave of compassion, Bharat dashed towards the water and reached for the fragile creature. He scooped the newborn baby deer in his arms and returned to his hermitage.

At his hermitage, Bharat cradled the fawn; he was transformed into a nurturing figure, feeding warm milk to the fawn while whispering soothing words.

As time passed, the deer became the very heartbeat of Bharat's existence. Abandoning his devotion to Lord Narayan, Bharat was utterly captivated by this deer. It was astonishing how Bharat, who had renounced wife, children, and a glorious kingdom, had become so spellbound by this deer that he could not think of anything else.

Day and night, Bharat's thoughts revolved around the deer. Each moment apart sent waves of anxiety crashing over him.

"What if my precious child is lost?" he fretted, visions of danger swirling in his mind. He is so fragile and alone, without friends or family. Who will protect him? Will a wild beast claim him as its prey?"

Bharat couldn't bear the thought; his heart raced with fear. The bond between them was undeniable.

As Bharat settled down for his devotion to Lord Narayan, he felt the gentle nudging of a curious deer. With its soft horns prodding him playfully, Bharat found himself drawn away from the thoughts of the magnificent form of Lord Narayan, into a world of the deer’s innocent antics. Each time he tried to concentrate, the playful creature would steal his focus, leading him to feed and lovingly caress it. What a surprising twist for a man who had renounced the world for his beloved Lord Narayan! Now, Bharat had reached such a terrible state that he discovered bliss, not from the divine but from the companionship of a deer.

A Deathbed Obsession

As Bharat lay on his deathbed, his thoughts were focused on the deer as he took his final breath.

Bharat: The Deer

The great king Bharat, who had renounced the world to meet Lord Narayan, was born as a deer in his next life. Now, the question arises: Bharat was a great devotee; why was he born as a deer?

Bharat was born as a deer because his mind was attached to the deer as he lay on his deathbed. He called out to the creature when he took his last breath, It is a divine law that your last thought at the time of death decides what body you will attain in your next life.

But Bharat was no ordinary soul; he retained the memories of all his past lives—a haunting blessing. Overwhelmed by the weight of his new existence, he lamented:

"Here I am, having abandoned all material desires to wander the forest in blissful solitude, fully devoted to the divine, completely immersed by Lord Narayan. My heart was a sanctuary solely for Him. Yet, in a single, unforeseen moment—a chance encounter with a deer—I sealed my fate, neglecting my spiritual quest by becoming attached to a deer, which led to my birth as this animal."

A Second Chance

With fiery determination igniting his spirit, Bharat proclaimed:

"I refuse to be ensnared by this life! I must seize this opportunity!"

Bharat, in the body of a dear, travelled to Shaligram Kshetra, on the banks of the River Gandaki, where sages congregated. He surrounded himself with the company of saints, immersing himself in their wisdom, listening to the divine tales of the Lord, and chanting the Lord's sacred names, hoping that this would break him free from the chains of illusion and bondage.

In the body of a deer, each day was a test of endurance, a battle against despair, as he anxiously awaited the moment when death would finally sever the bonds of his earthly prison and set him free.

To be continued.........

Summary

Bharat, once an elevated devotee, became deeply attached to a deer, allowing his bond with the animal to overshadow his spiritual practices. This intense attachment consumed him, diverting his focus entirely away from Lord Narayan. When he passed away, his final thoughts were fixated on the deer, leading to his rebirth as one. Although he was born as a deer, he retained memories of his past life and felt profound regret for his overwhelming attachment. Determined to break free from this cycle, Bharat sought the association of the saints by living close to their hermitage with the hope of liberating himself from his animal form.

Let's reflect

Do you feel that attachment to material things or people has clouded your judgment and caused you to make decisions that you now regret? Please give examples from your life.