Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14
Jaḍa Bharata’s Birth, Feigned Madness, and Protection by Goddess Kālī
अथ त एनमनवद्यलक्षणमवमृश्य भर्तृकर्मनिष्पत्तिं मन्यमाना बद्ध्वा रशनया चण्डिकागृहमुपनिन्युर्मुदा विकसितवदना: ॥ १४ ॥
atha ta enam anavadya-lakṣaṇam avamṛśya bhartṛ-karma-niṣpattiṁ manyamānā baddhvā raśanayā caṇḍikā-gṛham upaninyur mudā vikasita-vadanāḥ.
Dann, nachdem sie Jaḍa Bharatas tadellose Merkmale geprüft hatten, hielten sie ihn für geeignet als „Mensch‑Tier“ des Opfers und meinten, damit den Auftrag ihres Anführers zu erfüllen. Mit vor Freude strahlenden Gesichtern banden sie ihn mit Seilen und brachten ihn zum Tempel der Caṇḍikā (Kālī).
In some parts of India, animalistic men are still sacrificed before the goddess Kālī. However, such a sacrifice is only performed by śūdras and dacoits. Their business is to plunder the wealthy, and to become successful they offer an animalistic man before the goddess Kālī. It should be noted that they never sacrifice an intelligent man before the goddess. In the body of a brāhmaṇa, Bharata Mahārāja appeared deaf and dumb, yet he was the most intelligent man in the world. Nonetheless, being completely surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he remained in that condition and did not protest being brought before the deity for slaughter. As we have learned from the previous verses, he was very strong and could have very easily avoided being bound with ropes, but he did not do anything. He simply depended on the Supreme Personality of Godhead for his protection. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura describes surrender unto the Supreme Lord in this way:
FAQs
Because the misled followers of a leader believed his auspicious, faultless features made him suitable to complete their master’s ritual, so they bound him and took him to Caṇḍikā’s temple.
It means “one whose marks are faultless and auspicious,” indicating Jaḍa Bharata’s pure, saintly qualities that others misinterpreted for their own purpose.
Do not mistake outer appearances or “good signs” as justification for harmful actions; true dharma rejects cruelty, and devotion cultivates discernment over blind ritualism.