Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 15
Jaḍa Bharata’s Birth, Feigned Madness, and Protection by Goddess Kālī
अथ पणयस्तं स्वविधिनाभिषिच्याहतेन वाससाऽऽच्छाद्य भूषणालेपस्रक्तिलकादिभिरुपस्कृतं भुक्तवन्तं धूपदीपमाल्यलाजकिसलयाङ्कुरफलोपहारोपेतया वैशससंस्थयामहता गीतस्तुतिमृदङ्गपणवघोषेण च पुरुषपशुं भद्रकाल्या: पुरत उपवेशयामासु: ॥ १५ ॥
atha paṇayas taṁ sva-vidhinābhiṣicyāhatena vāsasācchādya bhūṣaṇālepa-srak-tilakādibhir upaskṛtaṁ bhuktavantaṁ dhūpa-dīpa-mālya-lāja-kisalayāṅkura-phalopahāropetayā vaiśasa-saṁsthayā mahatā gīta-stuti-mṛdaṅga-paṇava-ghoṣeṇa ca puruṣa-paśuṁ bhadra-kālyāḥ purata upaveśayām āsuḥ.
بعد ذلك، قام اللصوص—وفق طقسٍ متخيَّل لقتل «الإنسان-البهيمة»—باغتسال جَدا بهاراتا، وألبسوه ثوبًا جديدًا، وزيّنوه بالحُليّ، ودهَنوا جسده بزيوتٍ عطرة، ووضعوا عليه التِّلكا، وعجينة الصندل، والأكاليل. وأطعموه حتى الشبع، ثم قدّموه أمام بهادرا كالي مع البخور والمصابيح والأكاليل والحبوب المحمّصة والأغصان الغضّة والبراعم والثمار والزهور. وبين الأناشيد والتسابيح ودويّ المِردنغ والبَنَو، أجلسوا «الإنسان-البهيمة» أمام الإلهة.
In this verse the word sva-vidhinā (according to their own ritualistic principles) is very significant. According to the Vedic śāstras, everything must be done according to regulative principles, but here it is stated that the thieves and rogues devised their own process for killing an animalistic man. The tamasic śāstras give instructions for the sacrifice of an animal like a goat or buffalo before the goddess Kālī, but there is no mention of killing a man, however dull he may be. This process was manufactured by the dacoits themselves; therefore the word sva-vidhinā is used. Even at this time there are many sacrifices being conducted without reference to the Vedic scriptures. For instance, in Calcutta recently a slaughterhouse was being advertised as a temple of the goddess Kālī. Meat-eaters foolishly purchase meat from such shops, thinking it different from ordinary meat and taking it to be the prasāda of Goddess Kālī. The sacrifice of a goat or a similar animal before the goddess Kālī is mentioned in śāstras just to keep people from eating slaughterhouse meat and becoming responsible for the killing of animals. The conditioned soul has a natural tendency toward sex and meat-eating; consequently the śāstras grant them some concessions. Actually the śāstras aim at putting an end to these abominable activities, but they impart some regulative principles so that gradually meat-eaters and sex hunters will be rectified.
FAQs
This verse depicts merchants preparing a cruel “sacrifice” by treating Jaḍa Bharata like a sacrificial animal, highlighting how ritual without true dharma and compassion becomes a misuse born of ignorance.
In the narrative, the merchants, misled by fear and wrong understanding, attempted to perform a dreadful rite; they mistook Jaḍa Bharata for a suitable victim and proceeded with elaborate external worship.
External religiosity without wisdom, compassion, and right discernment can become harmful; true spirituality in the Bhagavatam aligns worship with dharma, mercy, and purity of intention.