Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 5 Chapter 9:17-20

Book 5: Chapter 9

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 5: Chapter 9: Verses 17-20 Bharata reborn for a second time in a Brahmana family Perceiving the immolation, not permitted even when falling in the category of a slaughter permissible in the face of imminent danger to life, of the son of a Brahmana sage, who had actually become one with the Infinite, and who not only bore enmity to none but was friendly to all living beings-a most horrible act on the part of those Sudras, in whom the qualities of Rajas and Tamas naturally predominated, nay, whose mind had been puffed up with the pride of wealth, which taints one's souls, and who wilfully trod the evil path, disregarding the Brahmana race-who represent a ray of the Lord-and delighted in acts of violence, the same Goddess Bhadrakali suddenly emerged (from the image), Her (divine) body severely burning with the spiritual glory of the Brahmana, most difficult to bear. With Her arched eyebrows thrown up in the vehemence of extreme indignation and intensity of rage, curved teeth and wild bloodshot eyes She assumed a most dreadful aspect, as if intending to destroy the (whole) world, laughed a terrible horse-laugh in great anger and, springing up from the altar and lopping off the heads of those wicked sinners with the same sword (with which they were going to behead the Brahmana), drank to satiety along with Her retinue the exceedingly hot and inebriating blood streaming forth from their necks. Then, overpowered with intoxication through excessive drink, She sang at the pitch of Her voice along with Her attendants and also danced and played with the (amputated) heads like balls. Even so indeed does an act of transgression against exalted souls in the form of an attempt to kill them recoils in its entirety upon the offender himself. Nor is this any great wonder, 0 Visnudatta (a name of Pariksit, who was so-called because of his having been restored to life by Lord Visnu Himself appearing in the form of Sri Krsna), that perfect equanimity should reign even on the eve of being beheaded in the mind of sages who are at the same time devoted to the Lord, who have succeeded in resolving the exceptionally hard knot existing in their heart in the form of self-identification with the body, mind and senses etc., who are friends, nay, the very Self of all living beings, who bear enmity to none, and who are protected on all sides by the (ever) vigilant Lord Himself with the help of His equally vigilant weapon, the great discus (Sudarsana), and through various forms (such as that of Goddess Bhadrakali), inasmuch as they have resorted (for protection) to the soles of His feet, where there is no fear from any quarter. Thus ends the ninth discourse, forming part of the story of Jadabharata in Book Five of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana,otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.