Text 15] The Supreme Character of Jaḍa Bharata
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In the body of a  brāhmaṇa , Bharata Mahārāja appeared deaf and dumb, yet he was the most intelligent man in the world. Nonetheless, being completely surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he remained in that condition and did not protest being brought before the deity for slaughter. As we have learned from the previous verses, he was very strong and could have very easily avoided being bound with ropes, but he did not do anything. He simply depended on the Supreme Personality of Godhead for his protection. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura describes surrender unto the Supreme Lord in this way:
mārabi rākhabi—yo icchā tohārā nitya-dāsa-prati tuyā adhikārā
“My Lord, I am now surrendered unto You. I am Your eternal servant, and if You like You can kill me, or, if You like, You can protect me. In any case, I am fully surrendered unto You.”
TEXT 15
अथ पणयस्तं स्वविधिनाभिषिच्याहतेन वाससाऽऽच्छाद्य भूषणालेपस्रक्तिलकादिभिरुपस्कृतं भुक्तवन्तं धूपदीपमाल्यलाजकिसलया- ङ्कुरफलोपहारोपेतया वैशससंस्थया महता गीतस्तुतिमृदङ्गपणवघोषेण च पुरुषपशुं भद्रकाल्याः पुरत उपवेशयामासुः ॥ १५ ॥
atha paṇayas tam sva-vidhinābhiṣicyāhatena vāsasācchādya bhūṣaṇālepa-srak-tilakādibhir upaskṛtam bhuktavantam dhūpa-dīpa- mālya-lāja-kisalayāṅkura-phalopahāropetayā vaiśasa-saṁsthayā mahatā gīta-stuti-mṛdaṅga-paṇava-ghoṣeṇa ca puruṣa-paśuṁ bhadra- kālyāḥ purata upaveśayām āsuḥ.
atha—thereafter; paṇayaḥ—all the followers of the dacoit; tam— him (Jaḍa Bharata); sva-vidhinā—according to their own ritualistic principles; abhiṣicya—bathing; ahatena—with new; vāsasā—gar- ments; ācchādya—covering; bhūṣaṇa—ornaments; ālepa—smearing the body with sandalwood pulp; srak—a flower garland; tilaka- ādibhiḥ—with markings on the body and so on; upaskṛtam—completely