Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Sri Caitanya Siksamrita describes the demons Krishna killed in His Vrndavana pastimes and the anarthas (unwanted things) with which they may be associated.
- Putana (the witch) - the pseudo guru.
- Sakatasura (the cart demon) - carrying the burden of a cart-load of old and new bad habits, lethargy and vanity.
- Trinavarta (the whirlwind demon) - false pride which comes from material scholarship, which leads to bogus philosophies.
- Deliverance of Nalakuvara and Manigriva (breaking the twin arjuna trees) - Arrogant pride which comes from puffed-up prestige, which is rooted in a madness for wealth.
- Vatsasura (the calf demon) - a childish type of mentality which gives rise to a type of greediness which results in a wicked type of mischievousness.
- Bakasura (stork demon) - Cunning duplicity, deceptiveness and false types of behavior.
- Aghasura (the snake demon) - Cruelty and violence.
- Brahma-vimohana Pastime (Lord Brahma steals the cowherd boys and calves) - mundane activities and speculative scholasticism.
- Dhenukasura (the ass demon) - gross materialistic intelligence, ignorance of spiritual knowledge.
- Kaliya (chastising the Kaliya serpent) - brutality and treachery.
- Extinguishing the Forest Fire - inter-communal discord among Vaishnavas.
- Pralambasura (killing the Pralamba demon) - lusty inclinations; desire for personal gain and honor.
- Second Forest Fire - disturbance of religious principles and interference with religious people by those who are atheist.
- Brahmanas Performing Sacrifice - indifference toward Krishna caused by pride because of one's status (position) in varnasrama.
- Overcoming the Pride of Indra - demigod worship, and the tendency to think "I am Supreme."
- Nanda Maharaja Captured by Varuna - thinking that spiritual life can be enhanced by intoxication.
- Nanda Maharaja Swallowed by Vidyadhara (the snake) - rescuing the truth of Krishna consciousness from being swallowed by the impersonalists.
- Sankhacuda (killing the conch-shell demon and getting the jewel that was stolen by him) - proneness toward acquiring name and fame, and desire for sensuous enjoyment, under the plea of devotion.
- Aristasura (the bull demon) - pride arising from indulging in false religions invented by cheaters which causes neglect of devotional service (bhakti).
- Kesi (the horse demon) - The feeling that "I am a great devotee and spiritual master."
- Vyomasura (the demon in the sky) - associating with thieves and other rascals, and with people who put themselves forward as avataras.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura says: "The devotee who worships the holy name should first petition the Lord for the strength to cast out all these unfavorable tendencies and should pray thus before Lord Hari on a daily basis. By doing this regularly, the devotee's heart will eventually become purified. Sri Krishna has killed a number of demons which may arise in the kingdom of the heart, so in order to destroy these problems, a devotee must cry very humbly before the Lord and admit defeat then the Lord will nullify all contaminations."
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