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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 10 · Chapter 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka

10.59.13 10.59.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.59.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.59.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तान् पीठमुख्याननयद् यमक्षयं

निकृत्तशीर्षोरुभुजाङ्‍‍घ्रिवर्मण: ।

स्वानीकपानच्युतचक्रसायकै-

स्तथा निरस्तान् नरको धरासुत: ।

निरीक्ष्य दुर्मर्षण आस्रवन्मदै-

र्गजै: पयोधिप्रभवैर्निराक्रमात् ॥ १४ ॥

tān pīṭha-mukhyān anayad yama-kṣayaṁ

nikṛtta-śīrṣoru-bhujāṅghri-varmaṇaḥ

svānīka-pān acyuta-cakra-sāyakais

tathā nirastān narako dharā-sutaḥ

nirīkṣya durmarṣaṇa āsravan-madair

gajaiḥ payodhi-prabhavair nirākramāt

Translation

The Lord severed the heads, thighs, arms, legs and armor of these opponents led by Pīṭha and sent them all to the abode of Yamarāja. Narakāsura, the son of the earth, could not contain his fury when he saw the fate of his military leaders. Thus he went out of the citadel with elephants born from the Milk Ocean who were exuding mada from their foreheads out of excitement.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Defeat Provokes Narakāsura’s Fury

1
The Lord defeated the opponents led by Pīṭha, severing their limbs and armor and sending them to the abode of Yamarāja.
2
Seeing the fate of his military leaders, Narakāsura, the son of the earth, could not contain his fury.
3
He left the citadel with elephants born from the Milk Ocean. In their excitement, they were exuding mada from their foreheads.

How it feels

Yearning and danger → Marriage and reciprocity. A wider range of divine relationships appears.

Chapters 50–59 of Canto 10: Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī and royal rescues. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then He fought Mura’s seven sons and sent them all to the abode of death, after which Narakāsura himself entered the battlefield on the back of an elephant. Naraka threw his śakti lance at Śrī Kṛṣṇa, but the weapon proved ineffective, and the Lord cut the demon’s entire army to pieces.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.59