When entering the forest, the animal would appear very attractive to Mahārāja Bharata due to its childish behavior. Mahārāja Bharata would even take the deer on his shoulders and carry it due to affection. His heart was so filled with great love for the deer that he would sometimes keep it on his lap or, when sleeping, on his chest. In this way he felt great pleasure in fondling the animal.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
पथिषु च मुग्धभावेन तत्र तत्र विषक्तमतिप्रणयभर- हृदयः कार्पण्यात्स्कन्धेनोद्वहति एवमुत्सङ्ग उरसि चाधायोपलालयन् मुदं परमामवाप
pathiṣu ca mugdhabhāvena tatra tatra viṣaktamatipraṇayabhara- hṛdayaḥ kārpaṇyātskandhenodvahati evamutsaṅga urasi cādhāyopalālayan mudaṃ paramāmavāpa
SB 5.8.13