Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 11

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

又以沙尔恩迦弓所发的锐利箭矢，绍里——主施利·奎师那——也驱逐了普雷塔、母神众、毗舍遮、库什曼达与梵罗刹等。

Synonyms

• प्रेत-मातृ-पिशाचान्: ghosts, mother-spirits, and piśācas
• प्रेत-मातृ-पिशाचान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (प्रेताः च मातरः/मातृगणाः च पिशाचाः च)

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

• कुष्माण्डान्: kuṣmāṇḍas
• कुष्माण्डान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्म-राक्षसान्: brahma-rākṣasas
• ब्रह्म-राक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः राक्षसाः)

• द्रावयामास: drove away / caused to flee
• द्रावयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु) [प्रेरणार्थे णिच्]
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त-प्रयोगः (causative)

• तीक्ष्ण-अग्रैः: with sharp-pointed
• तीक्ष्ण-अग्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (तीक्ष्णम् अग्रं येषां ते)

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शार्ङ्ग-धनुः-च्युतैः: released from the Śārṅga bow
• शार्ङ्ग-धनुः-च्युतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + च्युत (कृदन्त, √च्यु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शार्ङ्गधनुषः च्युताः) + भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Śaurī)
• Śārṅga (Kṛṣṇa’s bow)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pretas and piśācas?

In this verse (10.63.11), Śukadeva describes pretas, piśācas, and other fearsome beings as part of the demonic host present in battle, and shows that Lord Kṛṣṇa effortlessly drives them away with His divine weapons.

Why did Lord Kṛṣṇa use arrows from the Śārṅga bow here?

During the fight connected with Bāṇāsura’s forces, Kṛṣṇa confronts and disperses terrifying supernatural troops; the verse highlights His supreme martial power and protective role as He makes them flee with sharp arrows from Śārṅga.

Practical application: how can a devotee relate to this verse today?

The shloka reinforces śaraṇāgati (taking shelter): when one is aligned with Kṛṣṇa through bhakti, fear of harmful influences diminishes, and one gains steadiness, courage, and trust in divine protection.