Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 1

The Lord’s Advent: Yoga-māyā’s Mission, Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Transfer, and the Demigods’ Prayers

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच प्रलम्बबकचाणूरतृणावर्तमहाशनै: । मुष्टिकारिष्टद्विविदपूतनाकेशीधेनुकै: ॥ १ ॥ अन्यैश्चासुरभूपालैर्बाणभौमादिभिर्युत: । यदूनां कदनं चक्रे बली मागधसंश्रय: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca pralamba-baka-cāṇūra- tṛṇāvarta-mahāśanaiḥ muṣṭikāriṣṭa-dvivida- pūtanā-keśī-dhenukaiḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Under the protection of Magadharāja, Jarāsandha, the powerful Kaṁsa began persecuting the kings of the Yadu dynasty. In this he had the cooperation of demons like Pralamba, Baka, Cāṇūra, Tṛṇāvarta, Aghāsura, Muṣṭika, Ariṣṭa, Dvivida, Pūtanā, Keśī, Dhenuka, Bāṇāsura, Narakāsura and many other demoniac kings on the surface of the earth.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (पूर्वपद) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• pralamba-baka-cāṇūra-tṛṇāvarta-mahāśanaiḥ: with Pralamba, Baka, Cāṇūra, Tṛṇāvarta, and Mahāśana
• pralamba-baka-cāṇūra-tṛṇāvarta-mahāśanaiḥ: Sahakari-karana (सहकारी-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralamba (प्रातिपदिक) + baka (प्रातिपदिक) + cāṇūra (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛṇāvarta (प्रातिपदिक) + mahāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (with Pralamba, Baka, Cāṇūra, Tṛṇāvarta, Mahāśana)

• muṣṭika-ariṣṭa-dvivida-pūtanā-keśī-dhenukaiḥ: with Muṣṭika, Ariṣṭa, Dvivida, Pūtanā, Keśī, and Dhenuka
• muṣṭika-ariṣṭa-dvivida-pūtanā-keśī-dhenukaiḥ: Sahakari-karana (सहकारी-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭika (प्रातिपदिक) + ariṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvivida (प्रातिपदिक) + pūtanā (प्रातिपदिक) + keśī (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (with Muṣṭika, Ariṣṭa, Dvivida, Pūtanā, Keśī, Dhenuka)

Purport

This verse supports the following statement given by the Lord in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7-8):

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Pralamba
• Baka
• Cāṇūra
• Tṛṇāvarta
• Aghāsura
• Muṣṭika
• Ariṣṭa
• Dvivida
• Pūtanā
• Keśī
• Dhenuka

FAQs

Which demons are mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.1?

The verse lists Pralamba, Baka, Cāṇūra, Tṛṇāvarta, the great devourer (Aghāsura), and also Muṣṭika, Ariṣṭa, Dvivida, Pūtanā, Keśī, and Dhenuka.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī list so many asuras connected to Krishna?

He is summarizing the powerful forces opposed to the Yadus and to Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mission, highlighting how the Lord repeatedly protects His devotees and defeats demonic hostility.

What is the practical lesson of Krishna defeating demons for modern life?

A devotee learns steadiness: even when obstacles appear formidable, sincere bhakti and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa cultivate courage, purity, and trust in divine protection.