TEXT 9
aho batayam harina-kunakah krpana isvara-ratha-carana-paribhramana-rayena sva-gana-suhrd-bandhubhyah parivarjitah saranam ca mopasadito mam eva mata-pitarau bhratr-jnatin yauthikams caivopeyaya nanyam kancana veda mayy ati-visrabdhas cata eva maya mat-parayanasya posana-palana-prinana-lalanam anasuyunanustheyam saranyopeksa-dosa-vidusa.
SYNONYMS
aho bataalas; ayamthis; harina-kunakahthe deer calf; krpanahhelpless; isvara-ratha-carana-paribhramana-rayenaby the force of the rotation of the time agent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which is compared to the wheel of His chariot; sva-ganaown kinsmen; suhrtand friends; bandhubhyahrelatives; parivarjitahdeprived of; saranamas shelter; caand; mame; upasaditahhaving obtained; mamme; evaalone; mata-pitaraufather and mother; bhratr-jnatinbrothers and kinsmen; yauthikanbelonging to the herd; caalso; evacertainly; upeyayahaving gotten; nanot; anyamanyone else; kancanasome person; vedait knows; mayiin me; ativery great; visrabdhahhaving faith; caand; atah evatherefore; mayaby me; mat-parayanasyaof one who is so dependent upon me; posana-palana-prinana-lalanamraising, maintaining, petting and protecting; anasuyunawho am without any grudge; anustheyamto be executed; saranyathe one who has taken shelter; upeksaof neglecting; dosa-vidusawho knows the fault.
TRANSLATION
The great King Maharaja Bharata began to think: Alas, this helpless young deer, by the force of time, an agent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has now lost its relatives and friends and has taken shelter of me. It does not know anyone but me, as I have become its father, mother, brother and relatives. This deer is thinking in this way, and it has full faith in me. It does not know anyone but me; therefore I should not be envious and think that for the deer my own welfare will be destroyed. I should certainly raise, protect, gratify and fondle it. When it has taken shelter with me, how can I neglect it? Even though the deer is disturbing my spiritual life, I realize that a helpless person who has taken shelter cannot be neglected. That would be a great fault.
PURPORT
When a person is advanced in spiritual consciousness or Krsna consciousness, he naturally becomes very sympathetic toward all living entities suffering in the material world. Naturally such an advanced person thinks of the suffering of the people in general. However, if one does not know of the material sufferings of fallen souls and becomes sympathetic because of bodily comforts, as in the case of Bharata Maharaja, such sympathy or compassion is the cause of ones downfall. If one is actually sympathetic to fallen, suffering humanity, he should try to elevate people from material consciousness to spiritual consciousness. As far as the deer was concerned, Bharata Maharaja became very sympathetic, but he forgot that it was impossible for him to elevate a deer to spiritual consciousness, because, after all, a deer is but an animal. It was very dangerous for Bharata Maharaja to sacrifice all his regulative principles simply to take care of an animal. The principles enunciated in Bhagavad-gita should be followed. Yam hi na vyathayanty ete purusam purusarsabha. As far as the material body is concerned, we cannot do anything for anyone. However, by the grace of Krsna, we may raise a person to spiritual consciousness if we ourselves follow the rules and regulations. If we give up our own spiritual activities and simply become concerned with the bodily comforts of others, we will fall into a dangerous position.

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