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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 63: Lord Kṛṣṇa Fights with Bāṇāsura
10.63.1910.63.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.63.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.63.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्माता कोटरा नाम नग्ना मक्तशिरोरुहा ।

पुरोऽवतस्थे कृष्णस्य पुत्रप्राणरिरक्षया ॥ २० ॥

tan-mātā koṭarā nāma

nagnā makta-śiroruhā

puro ’vatasthe kṛṣṇasya

putra-prāṇa-rirakṣayā

Translation

Just then Bāṇāsura’s mother, Koṭarā, desiring to save her son’s life, appeared before Lord Kṛṣṇa naked and with her hair undone.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Koṭarā Tries to Save Her Son

  1. 1

    Koṭarā was Bāṇāsura’s mother.

  2. 2

    Desiring to save her son’s life, she appeared before Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    She stood before Him naked and with her hair undone.

How it feels

Conflict and affection → Devotional wonder. Divine intimacy coexists with royal duties.

Chapters 60–69 of Canto 10: Palace life, family bonds and heroic protection. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 63: Lord Kṛṣṇa Fights with Bāṇāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Next Bāṇāsura’s mother, trying to save her son, appeared naked in front of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who averted His face to avoid looking at her. Seeing his chance, Bāṇa fled into his city.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.63
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tathis (Bāṇāsura’s)
  2. mātāmother
  3. koṭarā nāmanamed Koṭarā
  4. nagnānaked
  5. muktaloosened
  6. śiraḥ-ruhāher hair
  7. puraḥin front
  8. avatasthestood
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.63

    In this verse: “mother”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Koṭarā’s desire to save her son help you understand her intervention?

Practice

Reread the verse and distinguish Koṭarā’s stated motive from the action she took.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKoṭarā Tries to Save Her SonThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.63.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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