Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.10.19-22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Demons Resist With Fearsome Strength
“Many hundreds and thousands of demons, demi-demons, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas [man-eaters] and others, headed by Sumāli and Māli, resisted the armies of King Indra, which even death personified cannot easily overcome. Among the demons were Namuci, Śambara, Anarvā, Dvimūrdhā, Ṛṣabha, Asura, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Pulomā, Vṛṣaparvā, Praheti, Heti and Utkala. Roaring tumultuously and fearlessly like lions, these invincible demons, all dressed in golden ornaments, gave pain to the demigods with weapons like clubs, bludgeons, arrows, barbed darts, mallets and lances.”
What the purport teaches
- Hundreds and thousands of demons, demi-demons, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and others resisted Indra’s armies. Those armies were difficult even for death personified to overcome.
- The demons, headed by Sumāli and Māli, roared fearlessly like lions. They were dressed in golden ornaments.
- With clubs, bludgeons, arrows, barbed darts, mallets and lances, the demons gave pain to the demigods.
Try this today
Identify one detail about each army’s strength and one detail about the suffering caused by the battle.
Ask yourself
Which details help me appreciate the strength and fierceness of the opposing armies?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.