Panchama Skandha Adhyaya 9 Shloka 16 - Srimad Bhagavatam | Tamil | Vedapath

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Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 16

Jaḍa Bharata’s Birth, Feigned Madness, and Protection by Goddess Kālī

Devanagari script

अथ वृषलराजपणि: पुरुषपशोरसृगासवेन देवीं भद्रकालीं यक्ष्यमाणस्तदभिमन्त्रितमसिमतिकरालनिशितमुपाददे ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

atha vṛṣala-rāja-paṇiḥ puruṣa-paśor asṛg-āsavena devīṁ bhadra-kālīṁ yakṣyamāṇas tad-abhimantritam asim ati-karāla-niśitam upādade.

Translation

அப்போது திருடர்களில் ஒருவன், முதன்மை பூசாரி போல நடந்து, ‘மனித-மிருகம்’ எனக் கருதப்பட்ட ஜடபரதனின் இரத்தத்தை மதுவென எண்ணி பத்திரகாளி தேவிக்கு அர்ப்பணிக்கத் தயாரானான். ஆகவே பத்திரகாளி மந்திரத்தால் அபிமந்திரிக்கப்பட்ட மிகப் பயங்கரமான கூரிய வாளை எடுத்தான்।

Synonyms

अथthen

वृषलराजपणिःthe outcaste-king merchant (leader)

पुरुषपशोःof the human victim

असृगासवेनwith blood-liquor (blood as libation)

देवीम्the goddess

भद्रकालीम्Bhadrakālī

यक्ष्यमाणःintending to worship/sacrifice to

तत्that

अभिमन्त्रितम्consecrated, enchanted (with mantras)

असिम्sword

अतिकरालनिशितम्very terrible and sharp

उपाददेhe took up

Characters & Entities

Bhadrakālī

bandit chief (vṛṣala-rāja-paṇiḥ)

human victim (puruṣa-paśuḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about human sacrifice and blood offerings?

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.

Why were the bandits trying to worship Bhadrakālī with a human victim?

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.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

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.