Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 16
Jaḍa Bharata’s Birth, Feigned Madness, and Protection by Goddess Kālī
अथ वृषलराजपणि: पुरुषपशोरसृगासवेन देवीं भद्रकालीं यक्ष्यमाणस्तदभिमन्त्रितमसिमतिकरालनिशितमुपाददे ॥ १६ ॥
atha vṛṣala-rāja-paṇiḥ puruṣa-paśor asṛg-āsavena devīṁ bhadra-kālīṁ yakṣyamāṇas tad-abhimantritam asim ati-karāla-niśitam upādade.
Pada saat itu, seorang pencuri yang bertindak sebagai pendeta utama bersedia mempersembahkan darah Jaḍa Bharata—yang mereka bayangkan sebagai “manusia-binatang”—kepada Dewi Bhadrakālī untuk diminum seperti arak. Maka dia mengangkat pedang yang sangat menggerunkan dan tajam, yang telah disucikan dengan mantra Bhadrakālī, untuk membunuh Jaḍa Bharata.
FAQs
This verse depicts bandits committing adharma—attempting to worship Bhadrakālī through a blood offering from a human victim—showing the perversion of religion when driven by violence and ignorance.
In the narrative, the bandits are deluded and cruel; they seek success and power through a fear-based ritual, treating a man as a sacrificial animal and preparing a mantra-consecrated sword for the act.
The verse warns against using “religion” to justify harm—true dharma and bhakti never require cruelty; spiritual practice should increase compassion, purity, and reverence for life.