FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.9.18

भृशममर्षरोषावेशरभसविलसितभ्रुकुटिविटपकुटिलदंष्ट्रारुणेक्षणाटोपातिभयानकवदना हन्तुकामेवेदं महाट्टहासमतिसंरम्भेण विमुञ्चन्ती तत उत्पत्य पापीयसां दुष्टानां तेनैवासिना विवृक्णशीर्ष्णां गलात्स्रवन्तमसृगासवमत्युष्णं सह गणेन निपीयातिपानमदविह्वलोच्चैस्तरां स्वपार्षदै: सह जगौ ननर्त च विजहार च शिर:कन्दुकलीलया ॥ १८ ॥
bhṛśam amarṣa-roṣāveśa-rabhasa-vilasita-bhru-kuṭi-viṭapa-kuṭila-daṁṣṭrāruṇekṣaṇāṭopāti-bhayānaka-vadanā hantu-kāmevedaṁ mahāṭṭa-hāsam ati-saṁrambheṇa vimuñcantī tata utpatya pāpīyasāṁ duṣṭānāṁ tenaivāsinā vivṛkṇa-śīrṣṇāṁ galāt sravantam asṛg-āsavam atyuṣṇaṁ saha gaṇena nipīyāti-pāna-mada-vihvaloccaistarāṁ sva-pārṣadaiḥ saha jagau nanarta ca vijahāra ca śiraḥ-kanduka-līlayā.
[bhrisham amarsha-roshaavesha-rabhasa-vilasita-bhru-kuti-vitapa-kutila-damshtraarunekshanaatopaati-bhayaanaka-vadanaa hantu-kaamevedam mahaatta-haasam ati-samrambhena vimunchantee tata utpatya paapeeyasaam dushtaanaam tenaivaasinaa vivrikna-sheershnaam galaat sravantam asrig-aasavam atyushnam saha ganena nipeeyaati-paana-mada-vihvalochchaistaraam sva-paarshadaih saha jagau nanarta cha vijahaara cha shirah-kanduka-leelayaa.]
Word-for-word
bhṛśam — very highly amarṣa — in intolerance of the offenses roṣa — in anger āveśa — of her absorption rabhasa-vilasita — expanded by the force bhru-kuṭi — of her eyebrows viṭapa — the branches kuṭila — curved daṁṣṭra — teeth aruṇa-īkṣaṇa — of reddish eyes āṭopa — by the agitation ati — very much bhayānaka — fearful vadanā — having a face hantu-kāmā — desirous to destroy iva — as if idam — this universe mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam — a greatly fearful laugh ati — great saṁrambheṇa — because of anger vimuñcantī — releasing tataḥ — from that altar utpatya — coming forth pāpīyasām — of all the sinful duṣṭānām — great offenders tena eva asinā — by that same chopper vivṛkṇa — separated śīrṣṇām — whose heads galāt — from the neck sravantam — oozing out asṛk-āsavam — the blood, compared to an intoxicating beverage ati-uṣṇam — very hot saha — with gaṇena — her associates nipīya — drinking ati-pāna — from drinking so much mada — by intoxication vihvalā — overwhelmed uccaiḥ-tarām — very loudly sva-pārṣadaiḥ — her own associates saha — with jagau — sang nanarta — danced ca — also vijahāra — played ca — also śiraḥ-kanduka — using the heads as balls līlayā — by sports.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhṛśam amarṣa-roṣāveśa-rabhasa-vilasita-bhru-kuṭi-viṭapa-kuṭila-daṁṣṭrāruṇekṣaṇāṭopāti-bhayānaka-vadanā hantu-kāmevedaṁ mahāṭṭa-hāsam ati-saṁrambheṇa vimuñcantī tata utpatya pāpīyasāṁ duṣṭānāṁ tenaivāsinā vivṛkṇa-śīrṣṇāṁ galāt sravantam asṛg-āsavam atyuṣṇaṁ saha gaṇena nipīyāti-pāna-mada-vihvaloccaistarāṁ sva-pārṣadaiḥ saha jagau nanarta ca vijahāra ca śiraḥ-kanduka-līlayā.
bhṛśam
very highly
amarṣa
in intolerance of the offenses
roṣa
in anger
āveśa
of her absorption
rabhasa-vilasita
expanded by the force
bhru-kuṭi
of her eyebrows
viṭapa
the branches
kuṭila
curved
daṁṣṭra
teeth
aruṇa-īkṣaṇa
of reddish eyes
āṭopa
by the agitation
ati
very much
bhayānaka
fearful
vadanā
having a face
hantu-kāmā
desirous to destroy
iva
as if
idam
this universe
mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam
a greatly fearful laugh
ati
great
saṁrambheṇa
because of anger
vimuñcantī
releasing
tataḥ
from that altar
utpatya
coming forth
pāpīyasām
of all the sinful
duṣṭānām
great offenders
tena eva asinā
by that same chopper
vivṛkṇa
separated
śīrṣṇām
whose heads
galāt
from the neck
sravantam
oozing out
asṛk-āsavam
the blood, compared to an intoxicating beverage
ati-uṣṇam
very hot
saha
with
gaṇena
her associates
nipīya
drinking
ati-pāna
from drinking so much
mada
by intoxication
vihvalā
overwhelmed
uccaiḥ-tarām
very loudly
sva-pārṣadaiḥ
her own associates
saha
with
jagau
sang
nanarta
danced
ca
also
vijahāra
played
ca
also
śiraḥ-kanduka
using the heads as balls
līlayā
by sports.
Intolerant of the offenses committed, the infuriated Goddess Kālī flashed her eyes and displayed her fierce, curved teeth. Her reddish eyes glowed, and she displayed her fearsome features. She assumed a frightening body, as if she were prepared to destroy the entire creation. Leaping violently from the altar, she immediately decapitated all the rogues and thieves with the very sword with which they had intended to kill Jaḍa Bharata. She then began to drink the hot blood that flowed from the necks of the beheaded rogues and thieves, as if this blood were liquor. Indeed, she drank this intoxicant with her associates, who were witches and female demons. Becoming intoxicated with this blood, they all began to sing very loudly and dance as though prepared to annihilate the entire universe. At the same time, they began to play with the heads of the rogues and thieves, tossing them about as if they were balls.
Purport

It is evident from this verse that the devotees of Goddess Kālī are not at all favored by her. It is Goddess Kālī’s work to kill and punish the demons. Goddess Kālī (Durgā) engages in decapitating many demons, dacoits and other unwanted elements in society. Neglecting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, foolish people try to satisfy the goddess by offering her many abominable things, but ultimately when there is a little discrepancy in this worship, the goddess punishes the worshiper by taking his life. Demoniac people worship Goddess Kālī to obtain some material benefit, but they are not excused of the sins performed in the name of worship. To sacrifice a man or animal before the deity is specifically forbidden.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
She had a fearsome visage burning with red eyes, crooked teeth, and frowning brows, which expanded by the force of her anger and intolerance to the offense to Bharata. In great anger, she released a loud laugh, indicating her desire to destroy the whole universe. Along with her followers she began to drink the warm blood as liquor as it flowed from the necks of the sinful thieves whose heads she severed with the same sword. Overwhelmed by intoxication, she began to sing loudly and dance with her followers and tossed the heads of the thieves around in play. She became angry, unable to tolerate the offense to Bharata (amarsa). She had a face fearful with the energy of her red eyes, crooked teeth, the branches of her frowning eyebrows which expanded by the force of her absorption in anger and intolerance at the offense to Bharata. Hantu-kāmevedaṁ means she desired to destroy the universe (idam) because of the offense to Bharata, one entity residing in that universe.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Even Kālī, fierce as she is, defends a sincere devotee against unauthorized worshipers who try to use her for sin. When we trust the Lord, even powers that look threatening may turn to our protection. The cosmos defends devotion.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'fierce' force in your life — illness, opposition, hard truth — might actually be defending your devotion if you let it?
  • Where have you misread an intervention as punishment when it was rescue?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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