Feigning meditation, the King (Bharata) would actually think of the animal, and this was but a sign of his downfall

Expressions researched:
"Feigning meditation, the King would actually think of the animal, and this was but a sign of his downfall"

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 5

Now King Bharata considers his meditation false. While engaged in meditation, he was actually thinking of his deer, and he would feel great pleasure when the animal pricked him with the points of its horns. Feigning meditation, the King would actually think of the animal, and this was but a sign of his downfall.

SB 5.8.21, Translation and Purport

Alas, the small deer, while playing with me and seeing me feigning meditation with closed eyes, would circumambulate me due to anger arising from love, and it would fearfully touch me with the points of its soft horns, which felt like drops of water.

Now King Bharata considers his meditation false. While engaged in meditation, he was actually thinking of his deer, and he would feel great pleasure when the animal pricked him with the points of its horns. Feigning meditation, the King would actually think of the animal, and this was but a sign of his downfall.