Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.37.13
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
avatīrṇaḥ
—
descended
Ava-tṝ — to cross down. The technical word for the Lord's descent into the world. Gauḍīyas distinguish avatāra (the Lord's own descent) from the jīva's birth: the Lord crosses down, the soul falls down.
-
sādhūnām
—
of saintly persons
Sādhu — one who is straight, true, devoted. The protected class. Gauḍīyas read sādhu narrowly: a sādhu is not merely a moral person but one whose life is oriented toward Kṛṣṇa.
-
rakṣaṇāya
—
for the protection of
From rakṣ — to guard. The Lord's descent is always protective; even His killing of asuras is framed as rakṣaṇa for the devotees.
-
daitya-pramatha-rakṣasām
—
of various kinds of demons
Three demon-classes named together: Daityas (sons of Diti), Pramathas (Śiva's wrathful followers gone rogue), Rākṣasas (night-stalkers). Nārada is comprehensive — every demonic class is on the list.
Therefore I have come today to make a request. You are the creator (sa) mentioned in the previous verse, and have appeared to protect the devotees and destroy the demon who are acting as kings.
Having shown his two aspects, Nārada now explains the cause for Kṛṣṇa’s appearance in this world, in a sequence of pastimes. Though you have this nature, you have appeared to destroy those who oppose bhakti and to protect those who propagate bhakti. Another version has setūnām: you protect the kings who enforce bhakti. Pramatha (type of demon, follower of Śiva) refers to the king of Kāśī and others.
He who creates this world of good and bad is you. You appear to destroy completely, giving liberation to demons and pramathas in the form of kings like Śiśupāla. I have committed offense by having your devotees who should be protected tied up.
- What 'demon posing as king' currently occupies a throne in your inner life?
- Are you trusting Kṛṣṇa's intervention to both remove and protect?
The same creator who set up the stage has now walked onto it in costume — to remove the actors who refused to play their parts. Daityas, Pramathas, Rākṣasas dressed as kings will be unmasked one by one, and the sādhus, who never wanted thrones, will get their peace back.
Nārada's couplet here — 'descended for the destruction of demonic kings and the protection of the godly' — is the Bhāgavatam's deliberate echo of BG 4.8 (paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām). The Gītā states the principle; Canto 10 demonstrates it.
Gauḍīyas note that Nārada says it now, mid-Vraja-līlā, just before Vraja closes — as if reminding Kṛṣṇa Himself of the mission statement before He boards Akrūra's chariot for Mathurā.
My note
Source: vedabase.io