Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

शङ्करानुचरान् शौरिर्भूतप्रमथगुह्यकान् । डाकिनीर्यातुधानांश्च वेतालान् सविनायकान् ॥ १० ॥ प्रेतमातृपिशाचांश्च कुष्माण्डान् ब्रह्मराक्षसान् । द्रावयामास तीक्ष्णाग्रै: शरै: शार्ङ्गधनुश्‍च्युतै: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkarānucarān śaurir bhūta-pramatha-guhyakān ḍākinīr yātudhānāṁś ca vetālān sa-vināyakān

Translation

With sharp-pointed arrows released from His Śārṅga bow, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa drove away Śaṅkara’s attendants—Bhūtas, Pramathas, Guhyakas, Ḍākinīs, Yātudhānas, Vetālas and Vināyakas, and the rest.

Synonyms

• शङ्कर-अनुचरान्: attendants of Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर-अनुचरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्करस्य अनुचराः)

• शौरिः: Śauri (Kṛṣṇa)
• शौरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• भूत-प्रमथ-गुह्यकान्: bhūtas, pramathas, and guhyakas
• भूत-प्रमथ-गुह्यकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भूताः च प्रमथाः च गुह्यकाः च)

• डाकिनीः: ḍākinīs
• डाकिनीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• यातुधानान्: yātudhānas (demons)
• यातुधानान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यातुधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वेतालान्: vetālas
• वेतालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• स-विनायकान्: together with the vināyakas
• स-विनायकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह विनायकैः/विनायकान् सहितान्)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna defeating ghostly and demonic forces?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa (Śaurī) repels Śiva’s attendant hosts—ghosts and fierce beings like vetālas and yātudhānas—showing His supreme protective power in battle.

Why did Krishna fight the followers of Shiva in the Banasura story?

During the battle with Bāṇāsura, Śiva’s attendant forces joined the defense; Kṛṣṇa countered them as part of subduing Bāṇa’s army, without denying Śiva’s exalted position.

Practical application: what does this verse teach a devotee today?

It encourages reliance on the Lord’s shelter—steadfast devotion and prayer—especially when facing fear, negativity, or overwhelming opposition.