Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.59.2-3
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Honors His Promises
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Bhauma had stolen the earrings belonging to Indra’s mother, along with Varuṇa’s umbrella and the demigods’ playground at the peak of Mandara mountain, Indra went to Lord Kṛṣṇa and informed Him of these misdeeds. The Lord, taking His wife Satyabhāmā with Him, then rode on Garuḍa to Prāgyotiṣa-pura, which was surrounded on all sides by fortifications consisting of hills, unmanned weapons, water, fire and wind, and by obstructions of mura-pāśa wire.”
What the purport teaches
- Indra informed Lord Kṛṣṇa of Bhauma’s thefts. The Lord took Satyabhāmā with Him and rode on Garuḍa to the heavily fortified Prāgyotiṣa-pura.
- The ācāryas explain that Kṛṣṇa wanted to give His adventurous wife a novel experience. Since Bhūmi is an expansion of Satyabhāmā, Satyabhāmā could also authorize Him to kill Bhūmi’s demoniac son, honoring His earlier promise.
- Kṛṣṇa had promised Satyabhāmā a whole pārijāta tree to pacify her. His journey included obtaining that tree and returning the stolen goods to their rightful owners.
Try this today
Choose one explanation for Satyabhāmā’s presence and reread it slowly, reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s personal care.
Ask yourself
What do these explanations help you appreciate about Kṛṣṇa’s care for Satyabhāmā and His promises?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.