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

此时，盗匪中一人充当主祭，准备将他们想象为“人兽”的贾达·婆罗多之血当作酒浆献给婆陀罗迦梨女神饮用。于是他取起一柄极其可怖而锋利的宝剑，以婆陀罗迦梨的真言加持后，高举欲斩杀贾达·婆罗多。

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

• वृषलराजपणिः: the outcaste-king merchant (leader)
• वृषलराजपणिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषल + राज + पणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वृषलानां राजा; तस्य पणिः/व्यापारी)

• पुरुषपशोः: of the human victim
• पुरुषपशोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषपशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• असृगासवेन: with blood-liquor (blood as libation)
• असृगासवेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असृक् + आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (असृजः आसवः) करण

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of yakṣyamāṇaḥ—worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भद्रकालीम्: Bhadrakālī
• भद्रकालीम्: कर्म (Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रकाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवीम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• यक्ष्यमाणः: intending to worship/sacrifice to
• यक्ष्यमाणः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: भविष्यत्काले शानच् (future middle participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि; विशेषणम् (वृषलराजपणिः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Relational)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• अभिमन्त्रितम्: consecrated, enchanted (with mantras)
• अभिमन्त्रितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (असिम्)

• असिम्: sword
• असिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of upādade)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अतिकरालनिशितम्: very terrible and sharp
• अतिकरालनिशितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + कराल + निशित (प्रातिपदिक; √निश्-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अतिकरालं च निशितं च) विशेषणम् (असिम्)

• उपाददे: he took up
• उपाददे: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ√दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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.