Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

तन्माता कोटरा नाम नग्ना मक्तशिरोरुहा । पुरोऽवतस्थे कृष्णस्य पुत्रप्राणरिरक्षया ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tan-mātā koṭarā nāma nagnā makta-śiroruhā puro ’vatasthe kṛṣṇasya putra-prāṇa-rirakṣayā

Translation

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

Synonyms

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• कोटरा: Koṭarā
• कोटरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; particle meaning 'by name/indeed' (नाम-प्रयोग)

• नग्ना: naked
• नग्ना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying 'माता/कोटरा'

• मक्त-शिरोरुहा: with loosened hair
• मक्त-शिरोरुहा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: 'मक्ताः शिरोरुहाः यस्याः' (with loosened hair)

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'in front/before'

• अवतस्थे: stood
• अवतस्थे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• पुत्र-प्राण-रिरक्षया: for the protection of (her) son's life
• पुत्र-प्राण-रिरक्षया: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + रिरक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'पुत्रस्य प्राणानां रिरक्षा' = protection of (her) son's life

Characters & Entities

• Koṭarā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Bāṇāsura

FAQs

Who is Koṭarā in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 63?

Koṭarā is Bāṇāsura’s mother, who comes before Lord Kṛṣṇa in a desperate attempt to save her son’s life.

Why did Koṭarā stand naked with loosened hair before Kṛṣṇa?

In the narrative, she makes an extreme, urgent appeal—abandoning normal decorum—to stop Kṛṣṇa from killing her son and to evoke mercy.

What practical lesson does this verse teach for modern life?

Even amid conflict, heartfelt appeals for protection and mercy can soften outcomes—reminding us to seek compassion and de-escalation rather than revenge.