Once Dattatreya was sitting in meditation when King Yadu passed by and saw this young person sitting unaffected, happy and calm.

King Yadu approached Dattatreya and humbly asked, “ How do you remain unaffected by troubles, happy and calm? Why do you always seem to be floating in bliss (happiness)? What has made this possible?”

Dattatreya replied, “O King Yadu I have observed the world closely and obtained a little knowledge from a number of gurus (teachers). Listen carefully! I will tell you what I have learnt.”

Listen to the lesson that Datta learned from the Deer.

The deer brings to mind innocence and gentleness. The deer is very swift in running and is difficult to capture. 

However, the deer has an intense love of music. The hunter’s music makes them stand still and listen with closed eyes. Then the Deer is easily captured. 

Datta said, “I gathered from this that if a hermit living in the forest was to succumb to music and dance, his fall would be a certainty.

In the same way, I should not let my sense of hearing lead me astray. I learnt from the Deer not to be beguiled by music or dancing." 

Lessons learned from the Deer further illustrated