Shloka 16
The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa
अरिष्टे निहते दैत्ये कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । कंसायाथाह भगवान् नारदो देवदर्शन: ॥ १६ ॥
ariṣṭe nihate daitye kṛṣṇenādbhuta-karmaṇā kaṁsāyāthāha bhagavān nārado deva-darśanaḥ
അദ്ഭുതകർമ്മനായ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ അരിഷ്ട ദൈത്യനെ വധിച്ചതിന് ശേഷം, ദേവദർശനശക്തിയുള്ള ഭഗവാൻ നാരദമുനി കംസന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ചെന്നു അവനോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.
The term deva-darśana can be understood in many ways, all of which are consistent with the context and purport of this narration. Deva means “God,” and darśanaḥ means “seeing” or “an audience with a great personality.” Thus deva-darśana, a name for Nārada Muni, indicates that Nārada has attained the perfection of seeing God, that getting Nārada’s audience is as good as getting God’s (since Nārada is a pure representative of the Lord), and also that Nārada’s audience is as good as that of the demigods, who are also known as devas. That there are all these meanings of the term deva-darśanaḥ reveals something of the richness of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’s language.
FAQs
This verse notes that Kṛṣṇa, famed for wondrous deeds, killed the demon Ariṣṭa—another act of divine protection for Vraja.
After Ariṣṭa’s death, Nārada approached Kaṁsa to speak crucial information that would intensify Kaṁsa’s fear and push the narrative toward Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s departure for Mathurā.
Remembering Kṛṣṇa as the protector strengthens faith during adversity and encourages devotees to face “inner demons” (fear, anger, envy) with steadiness and devotion.