Krishna Chastises the Serpent Kaliya

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.16.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच विलोक्य दूषितां कृष्णां कृष्णः कृष्णाहिना विभुः । तस्या विशुद्धिमन्विच्छन् सर्पं तमुदवासयत् ॥ 16.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca vilokya dūṣitāṁ kṛṣṇāṁ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛṣṇāhinā vibhuḥ tasyā viśuddhim anvicchan sarpaṁ tam udavāsayat

Shri Shukadeva said: Seeing that the dark-watered Yamuna had been polluted by the black serpent Kaliya, the almighty Krishna, wishing to purify her, banished that serpent from her waters.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.16.2)

श्रीराजोवाच कथमन्तर्जलेऽगाधे न्यगृह्णाद् भगवानहिम् । स वै बहुयुगावासं यथासीद् विप्र कथ्यताम् ॥ 16.2 ॥

śrī-rājovāca katham antar-jale ’gādhe nyagṛhṇād bhagavān ahim sa vai bahu-yugāvāsaṁ yathāsīd vipra kathyatām

King Parikshit said: O brahmana, please tell me how the Lord subdued the serpent within those unfathomable waters, and also how it was that the serpent had dwelt there for so many ages.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.16.3)

ब्रह्मन् भगवतस्तस्य भूम्नः स्वच्छन्दवर्तिनः । गोपालोदारचरितं कस्तृप्येतामृतं जुषन् ॥ 16.3 ॥

brahman bhagavatas tasya bhūmnaḥ svacchanda-vartinaḥ gopālodāra-caritaṁ kas tṛpyetāmṛtaṁ juṣan

O brahmana, that boundless Lord moves entirely by His own free will — who could ever be satisfied after tasting the nectar of the magnanimous deeds He performs as a cowherd boy?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.16.4)

श्रीशुक उवाच कालिन्द्यां कालियस्यासीद् ह्रदः कश्चिद् विषाग्निना । श्रप्यमाणपया यस्मिन् पतन्त्युपरिगाः खगाः ॥ 16.4 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca kālindyāṁ kāliyasyāsīd hradaḥ kaścid viṣāgninā śrapyamāṇa-payā yasmin patanty upari-gāḥ khagāḥ

Shukadeva said: In the Kalindi there was a lake belonging to the serpent Kaliya, its water forever seething from the fire of his venom; birds flying above it would simply drop dead into it.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.16.5)

विप्रुष्मता विषदोर्मिमारुतेनाभिमर्शिताः । म्रियन्ते तीरगा यस्य प्राणिनः स्थिरजङ्गमाः ॥ 16.5 ॥

vipruṣmatā viṣadormi- mārutenābhimarśitāḥ mriyante tīra-gā yasya prāṇinaḥ sthira-jaṅgamāḥ

Merely touched by the breeze carrying spray from that poisonous lake's waves, every creature on its banks, moving or unmoving, would die.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.16.6)

तं चण्डवेगविषवीर्यमवेक्ष्य तेन दुष्टां नदीं च खलसंयमनावतारः । कृष्णः कदम्बमधिरुह्य ततोऽतितुङ्ग- मास्फोट्य गाढरशनो न्यपतद् विषोदे ॥ 16.6 ॥

taṁ caṇḍa-vega-viṣa-vīryam avekṣya tena duṣṭāṁ nadīṁ ca khala-saṁyamanāvatāraḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kadambam adhiruhya tato ’ti-tuṅgam āsphoṭya gāḍha-raśano nyapatad viṣode

Krishna, who had descended to check the wicked, saw the ferocious, poison-charged power of the serpent and the river he had defiled. Climbing a very tall kadamba tree, tightening His belt and slapping His arms, He leapt into that venomous water.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.16.7)

सर्पह्रदः पुरुषसारनिपातवेग- सङ्क्षोभितोरगविषोच्छ्वसिताम्बुराशिः । पर्यक्प्लुतो विषकषायबिभीषणोर्मि- र्धावन् धनुःशतमनन्तबलस्य किं तत् ॥ 16.7 ॥

sarpa-hradaḥ puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega- saṅkṣobhitoraga-viṣocchvasitāmbu-rāśiḥ paryak pluto viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇormir dhāvan dhanuḥ-śatam ananta-balasya kiṁ tat

The lake's serpents, shaken by the force of that supreme Person's plunge, hissed forth their poison, so that the water surged out on all sides and fearsome, poison-tinged waves ran out for a hundred bow-lengths — yet what is that to One of infinite strength?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.16.8)

तस्य ह्रदे विहरतो भुजदण्डघूर्ण- वार्घोषमङ्ग वरवारणविक्रमस्य । आश्रुत्य तत् स्वसदनाभिभवं निरीक्ष्य चक्षुःश्रवाः समसरत्तदमृष्यमाणः ॥ 16.8 ॥

tasya hrade viharato bhuja-daṇḍa-ghūrṇa- vār-ghoṣam aṅga vara-vāraṇa-vikramasya āśrutya tat sva-sadanābhibhavaṁ nirīkṣya cakṣuḥ-śravāḥ samasarat tad amṛṣyamāṇaḥ

O King, as Krishna sported in that lake with the might of a lordly elephant, His swirling arms making the water roar, Kaliya heard the sound, saw this trespass upon his own dwelling, and unable to bear it, rushed forward.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.16.9)

तं प्रेक्षणीयसुकुमारघनावदातं श्रीवत्सपीतवसनं स्मितसुन्दरास्यम् । क्रीडन्तमप्रतिभयं कमलोदराङ्घ्रि सन्दश्य मर्मसु रुषा भुजया चछाद ॥ 16.9 ॥

taṁ prekṣaṇīya-sukumāra-ghanāvadātaṁ śrīvatsa-pīta-vasanaṁ smita-sundarāsyam krīḍantam apratibhayaṁ kamalodarāṅghriṁ sandaśya marmasu ruṣā bhujayā cachāda

Seeing Him so lovely to behold, delicately formed, dark and glistening, wearing the mark of Shrivatsa and yellow garments, His face smiling and beautiful, His feet like the whorl of a lotus, playing there without fear, Kaliya in fury bit Him at a vital spot and coiled his body around Him.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.16.10)

तं नागभोगपरिवीतमदृष्टचेष्ट- मालोक्य तत्प्रियसखाः पशुपा भृशार्ताः । कृष्णेऽर्पितात्मसुहृदर्थकलत्रकामा दुःखानुशोकभयमूढधियो निपेतुः ॥ 16.10 ॥

taṁ nāga-bhoga-parivītam adṛṣṭa-ceṣṭam ālokya tat-priya-sakhāḥ paśupā bhṛśārtāḥ kṛṣṇe ’rpitātma-suhṛd-artha-kalatra-kāmā duḥkhānuśoka-bhaya-mūḍha-dhiyo nipetuḥ

Seeing Him wrapped in the serpent's coils and motionless, His dear cowherd friends, deeply anguished, collapsed to the ground — their minds overwhelmed by grief, sorrow and fear, for they had surrendered to Krishna their very selves, their kinsmen, wealth, wives and every desire.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.16.11)

गावो वृषा वत्सतर्यः क्रन्दमानाः सुदुःखिताः । कृष्णे न्यस्तेक्षणा भीता रुदन्त्य इव तस्थिरे ॥ 16.11 ॥

gāvo vṛṣā vatsataryaḥ krandamānāḥ su-duḥkhitāḥ kṛṣṇe nyastekṣaṇā bhītā rudantya iva tasthire

The cows, bulls and calves, in deep distress, cried out; frightened, their eyes fixed on Krishna, they stood rooted where they were, as though weeping.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.16.12)

अथ व्रजे महोत्पातास्त्रिविधा ह्यतिदारुणाः । उत्पेतुर्भुवि दिव्यात्मन्यासन्नभयशंसिनः ॥ 16.12 ॥

atha vraje mahotpātās tri-vidhā hy ati-dāruṇāḥ utpetur bhuvi divy ātmany āsanna-bhaya-śaṁsinaḥ

Then in Vraja there arose great and terrible omens of all three kinds — earthly, celestial and bodily — foretelling imminent danger.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.16.13)

तानालक्ष्य भयोद्विग्ना गोपा नन्दपुरोगमाः । विना रामेण गाः कृष्णं ज्ञात्वा चारयितुं गतम् ॥ 16.13 ॥

tān ālakṣya bhayodvignā gopā nanda-purogamāḥ vinā rāmeṇa gāḥ kṛṣṇaṁ jñātvā cārayituṁ gatam

Seeing those omens, Nanda and the other cowherd men grew anxious with fear, for they knew Krishna had gone that day to herd the cows without Balarama.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.16.14)

तैर्दुर्निमित्तैर्निधनं मत्वा प्राप्तमतद्विदः । तत्प्राणास्तन्मनस्कास्ते दुःखशोकभयातुराः ॥ 16.14 ॥

tair durnimittair nidhanaṁ matvā prāptam atad-vidaḥ tat-prāṇās tan-manaskās te duḥkha-śoka-bhayāturāḥ

Not knowing His true power, and taking those ill omens to mean He had met death, those whose very life and mind were fixed on Krishna were overcome with grief, sorrow and fear.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.16.15)

आबालवृद्धवनिताः सर्वेऽङ्ग पशुवृत्तयः । निर्जग्मुर्गोकुलाद् दीनाः कृष्णदर्शनलालसाः ॥ 16.15 ॥

ā-bāla-vṛddha-vanitāḥ sarve ’ṅga paśu-vṛttayaḥ nirjagmur gokulād dīnāḥ kṛṣṇa-darśana-lālasāḥ

O King, everyone — children, the aged, the women — their hearts behaving like a cow's toward its calf, rushed helplessly out of Gokula, desperate for the sight of Krishna.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.16.16)

तांस्तथा कातरान् वीक्ष्य भगवान् माधवो बलः । प्रहस्य किञ्चिन्नोवाच प्रभावज्ञोऽनुजस्य सः ॥ 16.16 ॥

tāṁs tathā kātarān vīkṣya bhagavān mādhavo balaḥ prahasya kiñcin novāca prabhāva-jño ’nujasya saḥ

Seeing them all so frightened, Lord Balarama, who fully knew His younger brother's power, only smiled and said nothing.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.16.17)

तेऽन्वेषमाणा दयितं कृष्णं सूचितया पदैः । भगवल्लक्षणैर्जग्मुः पदव्या यमुनातटम् ॥ 16.17 ॥

te ’nveṣamāṇā dayitaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ sūcitayā padaiḥ bhagaval-lakṣaṇair jagmuḥ padavyā yamunā-taṭam

Searching for their beloved Krishna, they followed the trail marked by His footprints, each bearing the distinctive signs of the Godhead, all the way to the bank of the Yamuna.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.16.18)

ते तत्र तत्राब्जयवाङ्कुशाशनि- ध्वजोपपन्नानि पदानि विश्पतेः । मार्गे गवामन्यपदान्तरान्तरे निरीक्षमाणा ययुरङ्ग सत्वराः ॥ 16.18 ॥

te tatra tatrābja-yavāṅkuśāśani- dhvajopapannāni padāni viś-pateḥ mārge gavām anya-padāntarāntare nirīkṣamāṇā yayur aṅga satvarāḥ

O King, spotting here and there, amid the cows' hoofprints along the path, the footprints of Krishna, lord of the cowherds, marked with lotus, barleycorn, goad, thunderbolt and banner, they hurried on.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.16.19)

अन्तर्ह्रदे भुजगभोगपरीतमारात् कृष्णं निरीहमुपलभ्य जलाशयान्ते । गोपांश्च मूढधिषणान् परितः पशूंश्च सङ्क्रन्दतः परमकश्मलमापुरार्ताः ॥ 16.19 ॥

antar hrade bhujaga-bhoga-parītam ārāt kṛṣṇaṁ nirīham upalabhya jalāśayānte gopāṁś ca mūḍha-dhiṣaṇān paritaḥ paśūṁś ca saṅkrandataḥ parama-kaśmalam āpur ārtāḥ

Reaching the edge of the lake, they saw from afar Krishna lying motionless within the serpent's coils, the cowherd boys fallen senseless around Him, and the animals crying out on every side — seeing this, those grief-stricken people were plunged into utter despair.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.16.20)

गोप्योऽनुरक्तमनसो भगवत्यनन्ते तत्सौहृदस्मितविलोकगिरः स्मरन्त्यः । ग्रस्तेऽहिना प्रियतमे भृशदुःखतप्ताः शून्यं प्रियव्यतिहृतं ददृशुस्त्रिलोकम् ॥ 16.20 ॥

gopyo ’nurakta-manaso bhagavaty anante tat-sauhṛda-smita-viloka-giraḥ smarantyaḥ graste ’hinā priyatame bhṛśa-duḥkha-taptāḥ śūnyaṁ priya-vyatihṛtaṁ dadṛśus tri-lokam

The gopis, whose hearts were devoted to the boundless Lord, remembering His loving smiles, glances and words, now saw their beloved caught in the serpent's grip; scorched with grief, they beheld all three worlds as empty, bereft of Him who was dearest to them.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.16.21)

ताः कृष्णमातरमपत्यमनुप्रविष्टां तुल्यव्यथाः समनुगृह्य शुचः स्रवन्त्यः । तास्ता व्रजप्रियकथाः कथयन्त्य आसन् कृष्णाननेऽर्पितदृशो मृतकप्रतीकाः ॥ 16.21 ॥

tāḥ kṛṣṇa-mātaram apatyam anupraviṣṭāṁ tulya-vyathāḥ samanugṛhya śucaḥ sravantyaḥ tās tā vraja-priya-kathāḥ kathayantya āsan kṛṣṇānane ’rpita-dṛśo mṛtaka-pratīkāḥ

Equally stricken with sorrow, they held back Krishna's mother, who was wholly absorbed in thought of her son, and, themselves streaming tears, stood like corpses with their eyes fastened on Krishna's face, recounting again and again the dear pastimes of Vraja's beloved child.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.16.22)

कृष्णप्राणान्निर्विशतो नन्दादीन् वीक्ष्य तं ह्रदम् । प्रत्यषेधत् स भगवान् रामः कृष्णानुभाववित् ॥ 16.22 ॥

kṛṣṇa-prāṇān nirviśato nandādīn vīkṣya taṁ hradam pratyaṣedhat sa bhagavān rāmaḥ kṛṣṇānubhāva-vit

Seeing Nanda and the others, to whom Krishna was life itself, about to enter that lake, Lord Balarama, who fully knew Krishna's power, held them back.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.16.23)

इत्थं स्वगोकुलमनन्यगतिं निरीक्ष्य सस्त्रीकुमारमतिदुःखितमात्महेतोः । आज्ञाय मर्त्यपदवीमनुवर्तमानः स्थित्वा मुहूर्तमुदतिष्ठदुरङ्गबन्धात् ॥ 16.23 ॥

ittham sva-gokulam ananya-gatiṁ nirīkṣya sa-strī-kumāram ati-duḥkhitam ātma-hetoḥ ājñāya martya-padavīm anuvartamānaḥ sthitvā muhūrtam udatiṣṭhad uraṅga-bandhāt

Thus, seeing His own people of Gokula — women and children, who had no other refuge — plunged into deep sorrow on His account, the Lord, playing the part of a mortal, remained a while longer and then rose up out of the serpent's coils.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.16.24)

तत्प्रथ्यमानवपुषा व्यथितात्मभोग- स्त्यक्त्वोन्नमय्य कुपितः स्वफणान् भुजङ्गः । तस्थौ श्वसञ्छ्वसनरन्ध्रविषाम्बरीष- स्तब्धेक्षणोल्मुकमुखो हरिमीक्षमाणः ॥ 16.24 ॥

tat-prathyamāna-vapuṣā vyathitātma-bhogas tyaktvonnamayya kupitaḥ sva-phaṇān bhujaṅgaḥ tasthau śvasañ chvasana-randhra-viṣāmbarīṣa- stabdhekṣaṇolmuka-mukho harim īkṣamāṇaḥ

His coils wrenched by the swelling of the Lord's body, the serpent released Him, and in fury reared his hoods and stood there, breathing hard — his nostrils like vessels boiling with poison, his fixed eyes like burning torches — glaring at Hari.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.16.25)

तं जिह्वया द्विशिखया परिलेलिहानं द्वे सृक्वणी ह्यतिकरालविषाग्निदृष्टिम् । क्रीडन्नमुं परिससार यथा खगेन्द्रो बभ्राम सोऽप्यवसरं प्रसमीक्षमाणः ॥ 16.25 ॥

taṁ jihvayā dvi-śikhayā parilelihānaṁ dve sṛkvaṇī hy ati-karāla-viṣāgni-dṛṣṭim krīḍann amuṁ parisasāra yathā khagendro babhrāma so ’py avasaraṁ prasamīkṣamāṇaḥ

While the serpent licked his lips again and again with his forked tongue, glaring with eyes like terrible venomous fire, Krishna circled playfully around him just as Garuda would; the serpent too kept moving, watching for his chance.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.16.26)

एवं परिभ्रमहतौजसमुन्नतांस- मानम्य तत्पृथुशिरःस्वधिरूढ आद्यः । तन्मूर्धरत्ननिकरस्पर्शातिताम्र- पादाम्बुजोऽखिलकलादिगुरुर्ननर्त ॥ 16.26 ॥

evaṁ paribhrama-hataujasam unnatāṁsam ānamya tat-pṛthu-śiraḥsv adhirūḍha ādyaḥ tan-mūrdha-ratna-nikara-sparśāti-tāmra- pādāmbujo ’khila-kalādi-gurur nanarta

Having thus, by His endless circling, drained the serpent's strength, the primal Lord bent down his raised shoulders and mounted his broad hoods; His lotus feet, deepened to crimson by the touch of the jewels set upon those heads, began to dance — He who is the original teacher of every art.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.16.27)

तं नर्तुमुद्यतमवेक्ष्य तदा तदीय- गन्धर्वसिद्धमुनिचारणदेववध्वः । प्रीत्या मृदङ्गपणवानकवाद्यगीत- पुष्पोपहारनुतिभिः सहसोपसेदुः ॥ 16.27 ॥

taṁ nartum udyatam avekṣya tadā tadīya- gandharva-siddha-muni-cāraṇa-deva-vadhvaḥ prītyā mṛdaṅga-paṇavānaka-vādya-gīta- puṣpopahāra-nutibhiḥ sahasopaseduḥ

Seeing Him rise to dance, His own celestial servants — Gandharvas, Siddhas, sages, Charanas and the wives of the gods — at once arrived and, out of love, welcomed Him with the music of mridangas, panavas and anakas, with songs, offerings of flowers, and hymns of praise.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.16.28)

यद् यच्छिरो न नमतेऽङ्ग शतैकशीर्ष्ण- स्तत्तन् ममर्द खरदण्डधरोऽङ्घ्रिपातैः । क्षीणायुषो भ्रमत उल्बणमास्यतोऽसृङ् नस्तो वमन् परमकश्मलमाप नागः ॥ 16.28 ॥

yad yac chiro na namate ’ṅga śataika-śīrṣṇas tat tan mamarda khara-daṇḍa-dharo ’ṅghri-pātaiḥ kṣīṇāyuṣo bhramata ulbaṇam āsyato ’sṛṅ nasto vaman parama-kaśmalam āpa nāgaḥ

O King, whichever of the serpent's one hundred and one heads failed to bow was crushed under the blows of Krishna's stern, chastising feet; his life ebbing, the serpent reeled, vomiting streams of blood from mouths and nostrils, and fell into utter torment.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.16.29)

तस्याक्षिभिर्गरलमुद्वमतः शिरःसु यद् यत् समुन्नमति निःश्वसतो रुषोच्चैः । नृत्यन् पदानुनमयन् दमयां बभूव पुष्पैः प्रपूजित इवेह पुमान् पुराणः ॥ 16.29 ॥

tasyākṣibhir garalam udvamataḥ śiraḥsu yad yat samunnamati niḥśvasato ruṣoccaiḥ nṛtyan padānunamayan damayāṁ babhūva puṣpaiḥ prapūjita iveha pumān purāṇaḥ

Whichever head the serpent, his eyes streaming poison and breathing hard in rage, dared to raise, Krishna, dancing, would press down and subdue with His foot — as though that primeval Person were being worshiped there with a shower of flowers.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.16.30)

तच्चित्रताण्डवविरुग्नफणासहस्रो रक्तं मुखैरुरु वमन्नृप भग्नगात्रः । स्मृत्वा चराचरगुरुं पुरुषं पुराणं नारायणं तमरणं मनसा जगाम ॥ 16.30 ॥

tac-citra-tāṇḍava-virugna-phaṇā-sahasro raktaṁ mukhair uru vaman nṛpa bhagna-gātraḥ smṛtvā carācara-guruṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ tam araṇaṁ manasā jagāma

O King, his thousand hoods shattered by that astonishing dance, his body broken, vomiting blood profusely from his mouths, the serpent remembered that ancient Person Narayana, teacher of all moving and unmoving beings, and in his heart took refuge in Him.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.16.31)

कृष्णस्य गर्भजगतोऽतिभरावसन्नं पार्ष्णिप्रहारपरिरुग्नफणातपत्रम् । दृष्ट्वाहिमाद्यमुपसेदुरमुष्य पत्न्य आर्ताः श्लथद्वसनभूषणकेशबन्धाः ॥ 16.31 ॥

kṛṣṇasya garbha-jagato ’ti-bharāvasannaṁ pārṣṇi-prahāra-parirugna-phaṇātapatram dṛṣṭvāhim ādyam upasedur amuṣya patnya ārtāḥ ślathad-vasana-bhūṣaṇa-keśa-bandhāḥ

Seeing the serpent utterly exhausted beneath the immense weight of Krishna, in whose belly the whole universe rests, his umbrella-like hoods crushed by the blows of His heels, his wives came in distress before that primeval Person, their garments, ornaments and hair all in disarray.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.16.32)

तास्तं सुविग्नमनसोऽथ पुरस्कृतार्भाः कायं निधाय भुवि भूतपतिं प्रणेमुः । साध्व्यः कृताञ्जलिपुटाः शमलस्य भर्तु- र्मोक्षेप्सवः शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः ॥ 16.32 ॥

tās taṁ su-vigna-manaso ’tha puraskṛtārbhāḥ kāyaṁ nidhāya bhuvi bhūta-patiṁ praṇemuḥ sādhvyaḥ kṛtāñjali-puṭāḥ śamalasya bhartur mokṣepsavaḥ śaraṇa-daṁ śaraṇaṁ prapannāḥ

Deeply distressed, those virtuous women, placing their children before them, prostrated themselves flat on the ground before the Lord of all beings; desiring the release of their sinful husband, they folded their hands and took refuge in Him, the giver of refuge.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.16.33)

नागपत्न्य ऊचुः न्याय्यो हि दण्डः कृतकिल्बिषेऽस्मिं- स्तवावतारः खलनिग्रहाय । रिपोः सुतानामपि तुल्यदृष्टि- र्धत्से दमं फलमेवानुशंसन् ॥ 16.33 ॥

nāga-patnya ūcuḥ nyāyyo hi daṇḍaḥ kṛta-kilbiṣe ’smiṁs tavāvatāraḥ khala-nigrahāya ripoḥ sutānām api tulya-dṛṣṭir dhatse damaṁ phalam evānuśaṁsan

The serpent-wives said: This punishment given to our offending husband is entirely just, for You have descended to subdue the wicked. Looking with the same eye upon enemy and son alike, whatever chastisement You give is meant only for the recipient's ultimate good.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.16.34)

अनुग्रहोऽयं भवतः कृतो हि नो दण्डोऽसतां ते खलु कल्मषापहः । यद् दन्दशूकत्वममुष्य देहिनः क्रोधोऽपि तेऽनुग्रह एव सम्मतः ॥ 16.34 ॥

anugraho ’yaṁ bhavataḥ kṛto hi no daṇḍo ’satāṁ te khalu kalmaṣāpahaḥ yad dandaśūkatvam amuṣya dehinaḥ krodho ’pi te ’nugraha eva sammataḥ

What You have done to us is truly an act of grace, for the punishment You give the wicked destroys their sin. Since this embodied soul has taken the form of a serpent, even Your anger toward him must be counted as Your favor.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.16.35)

तपः सुतप्तं किमनेन पूर्वं निरस्तमानेन च मानदेन । धर्मोऽथ वा सर्वजनानुकम्पया यतो भवांस्तुष्यति सर्वजीवः ॥ 16.35 ॥

tapaḥ sutaptaṁ kim anena pūrvaṁ nirasta-mānena ca māna-dena dharmo ’tha vā sarva-janānukampayā yato bhavāṁs tuṣyati sarva-jīvaḥ

Did he in some past life, free of pride and honoring others, perform severe austerity? Or did he practice righteousness with compassion for all beings — that You, the Self of all living creatures, are now pleased with him?

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.16.36)

कस्यानुभावोऽस्य न देव विद्महे तवाङ्घ्रिरेणुस्परशाधिकारः । यद्वाञ्छया श्रीर्ललनाचरत्तपो विहाय कामान् सुचिरं धृतव्रता ॥ 16.36 ॥

kasyānubhāvo ’sya na deva vidmahe tavāṅghri-reṇu-sparaśādhikāraḥ yad-vāñchayā śrīr lalanācarat tapo vihāya kāmān su-ciraṁ dhṛta-vratā

O Lord, we do not know by what merit this creature has earned the right to be touched by the dust of Your feet — a boon for which the goddess Shri herself, renouncing every desire, once practiced long austerity and kept unbroken vows.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.16.37)

न नाकपृष्ठं न च सार्वभौमं न पारमेष्ठ्यं न रसाधिपत्यम् । न योगसिद्धीरपुनर्भवं वा वाञ्छन्ति यत्पादरजःप्रपन्नाः ॥ 16.37 ॥

na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na ca sārva-bhaumaṁ na pārameṣṭhyaṁ na rasādhipatyam na yoga-siddhīr apunar-bhavaṁ vā vāñchanti yat-pāda-rajaḥ-prapannāḥ

Those who have taken shelter of the dust of Your feet desire neither the summit of heaven, nor sovereignty over the whole earth, nor the seat of Brahma, nor lordship of the netherworld, nor the perfections of yoga, nor even liberation itself.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.16.38)

तदेष नाथाप दुरापमन्यै- स्तमोजनिः क्रोधवशोऽप्यहीशः । संसारचक्रे भ्रमतः शरीरिणो यदिच्छतः स्याद् विभवः समक्षः ॥ 16.38 ॥

tad eṣa nāthāpa durāpam anyais tamo-janiḥ krodha-vaśo ’py ahīśaḥ saṁsāra-cakre bhramataḥ śarīriṇo yad-icchataḥ syād vibhavaḥ samakṣaḥ

O Lord, though this king of serpents was born of the mode of darkness and ruled by anger, he has attained what is hard for others to attain — that which, once received, brings every desire of an embodied soul wandering in the wheel of samsara to fulfillment right before his eyes.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.16.39)

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते पुरुषाय महात्मने । भूतावासाय भूताय पराय परमात्मने ॥ 16.39 ॥

namas tubhyaṁ bhagavate puruṣāya mahātmane bhūtāvāsāya bhūtāya parāya paramātmane

Obeisances to You, O Supreme Personality, the great Soul — You who dwell within all beings, who are Yourself all created things, and who yet stand beyond them all as the Supreme Soul.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.16.40)

ज्ञानविज्ञाननीधये ब्रह्मणेऽनन्तशक्तये । अगुणायाविकाराय नमस्ते प्राकृताय च ॥ 16.40 ॥

jñāna-vijñāna-nīdhaye brahmaṇe ’nanta-śaktaye aguṇāyāvikārāya namas te prākṛtāya ca

Obeisances to You, the Absolute, the treasury of all knowledge and realization, possessor of infinite powers; though free of material qualities and untouched by change, You are the very source from which material nature proceeds.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.16.41)

कालाय कालनाभाय कालावयवसाक्षिणे । विश्वाय तदुपद्रष्ट्रे तत्कर्त्रे विश्वहेतवे ॥ 16.41 ॥

kālāya kāla-nābhāya kālāvayava-sākṣiṇe viśvāya tad-upadraṣṭre tat-kartre viśva-hetave

You are time itself, the hub on which time turns, the witness of time's every division; You are the universe, and also its witness, its maker, and the cause behind it all.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.16.42)

भूतमात्रेन्द्रियप्राणमनोबुद्ध्याशयात्मने । त्रिगुणेनाभिमानेन गूढस्वात्मानुभूतये ॥ 16.42 ॥

bhūta-mātrendriya-prāṇa- mano-buddhy-āśayātmane tri-guṇenābhimānena gūḍha-svātmānubhūtaye

You are the innermost Self of the gross elements, the senses, the vital air, the mind, the intellect and the heart; You are the Self even of the soul whose own true nature lies hidden beneath the false pride born of the three modes.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.16.43)

नमोऽनन्ताय सूक्ष्माय कूटस्थाय विपश्चिते । नानावादानुरोधाय वाच्यवाचकशक्तये ॥ 16.43 ॥

namo ’nantāya sūkṣmāya kūṭa-sthāya vipaścite nānā-vādānurodhāya vācya-vācaka-śaktaye

Obeisances to You, the infinite, the most subtle, the unchanging pinnacle, the all-knowing — You who make room for every differing philosophy, and who are Yourself the power behind both the word that names and the thing it names.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.16.44)

नमः प्रमाणमूलाय कवये शास्त्रयोनये । प्रवृत्ताय निवृत्ताय निगमाय नमो नमः ॥ 16.44 ॥

namaḥ pramāṇa-mūlāya kavaye śāstra-yonaye pravṛttāya nivṛttāya nigamāya namo namaḥ

Obeisances to You, the very ground of all valid proof, the seer, the source from which the scriptures spring; obeisances again and again to You, the Veda itself, who teach both the path of engagement and the path of renunciation.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.16.45)

नमः कृष्णाय रामाय वसुदेवसुताय च । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय सात्वतां पतये नमः ॥ 16.45 ॥

namaḥ kṛṣṇāya rāmāya vasudeva-sutāya ca pradyumnāyāniruddhāya sātvatāṁ pataye namaḥ

Obeisances to Krishna and to Rama, sons of Vasudeva; obeisances to Pradyumna and to Aniruddha; obeisances to You, the Lord of the devoted Satvatas.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.16.46)

नमो गुणप्रदीपाय गुणात्मच्छादनाय च । गुणवृत्त्युपलक्ष्याय गुणद्रष्ट्रे स्वसंविदे ॥ 16.46 ॥

namo guṇa-pradīpāya guṇātma-cchādanāya ca guṇa-vṛtty-upalakṣyāya guṇa-draṣṭre sva-saṁvide

Obeisances to You, who kindle the material qualities into being, who veil Your own self behind those very qualities, who are inferred only through their workings, yet who stand apart as their witness, self-luminous and self-aware.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.16.47)

अव्याकृतविहाराय सर्वव्याकृतसिद्धये । हृषीकेश नमस्तेऽस्तु मुनये मौनशीलिने ॥ 16.47 ॥

avyākṛta-vihārāya sarva-vyākṛta-siddhaye hṛṣīkeśa namas te ’stu munaye mauna-śīline

O Hrishikesha, whose pastimes are beyond comprehension, by whom every manifest creation is brought to perfection, You who are a sage by nature and given to silence — obeisances to You.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.16.48)

परावरगतिज्ञाय सर्वाध्यक्षाय ते नमः । अविश्वाय च विश्वाय तद्द्रष्ट्रेऽस्य च हेतवे ॥ 16.48 ॥

parāvara-gati-jñāya sarvādhyakṣāya te namaḥ aviśvāya ca viśvāya tad-draṣṭre ’sya ca hetave

Obeisances to You, knower of every destination, higher and lower alike, overseer of all that exists; You are the universe, and yet beyond it too, its witness and also its cause.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.16.49)

त्वं ह्यस्य जन्मस्थितिसंयमान् विभो गुणैरनीहोऽकृतकालशक्तिधृक् । तत्तत्स्वभावान् प्रतिबोधयन् सतः समीक्षयामोघविहार ईहसे ॥ 16.49 ॥

tvaṁ hy asya janma-sthiti-saṁyamān vibho guṇair anīho ’kṛta-kāla-śakti-dhṛk tat-tat-svabhāvān pratibodhayan sataḥ samīkṣayāmogha-vihāra īhase

O almighty one, though Yourself inactive, through Your power over time You bring about, by means of the modes, this world's birth, maintenance and dissolution — awakening in each existing thing its own particular nature, You carry out this unfailing play by a mere glance.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.16.50)

तस्यैव तेऽमूस्तनवस्त्रिलोक्यां शान्ता अशान्ता उत मूढयोनयः । शान्ताः प्रियास्ते ह्यधुनावितुं सतां स्थातुश्च ते धर्मपरीप्सयेहतः ॥ 16.50 ॥

tasyaiva te ’mūs tanavas tri-lokyāṁ śāntā aśāntā uta mūḍha-yonayaḥ śāntāḥ priyās te hy adhunāvituṁ satāṁ sthātuś ca te dharma-parīpsayehataḥ

All these bodies throughout the three worlds — the peaceful, the agitated, and the dull — are Your own forms. Of these, the peaceful are especially dear to You, and it is to protect the virtuous and uphold dharma that You are now active here.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.16.51)

अपराधः सकृद् भर्त्रा सोढव्यः स्वप्रजाकृतः । क्षन्तुमर्हसि शान्तात्मन् मूढस्य त्वामजानतः ॥ 16.51 ॥

aparādhaḥ sakṛd bhartrā soḍhavyaḥ sva-prajā-kṛtaḥ kṣantum arhasi śāntātman mūḍhasya tvām ajānataḥ

A master should at least once forgive an offense committed by his own dependent. O supremely peaceful one, You should therefore pardon this foolish creature, who did not know You.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.16.52)

अनुगृह्णीष्व भगवन् प्राणांस्त्यजति पन्नगः । स्त्रीणां नः साधुशोच्यानां पतिः प्राणः प्रदीयताम् ॥ 16.52 ॥

anugṛhṇīṣva bhagavan prāṇāṁs tyajati pannagaḥ strīṇāṁ naḥ sādhu-śocyānāṁ patiḥ prāṇaḥ pradīyatām

O Lord, be gracious — this serpent is giving up his very life. We women are worthy of the compassion of the saintly; please give back to us our husband, who is our life itself.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.10.16.53)

विधेहि ते किङ्करीणामनुष्ठेयं तवाज्ञया । यच्छ्रद्धयानुतिष्ठन् वै मुच्यते सर्वतोभयात् ॥ 16.53 ॥

vidhehi te kiṅkarīṇām anuṣṭheyaṁ tavājñayā yac-chraddhayānutiṣṭhan vai mucyate sarvato bhayāt

Command us, Your maidservants, what we should do by Your order — for one who faithfully carries out Your command is freed from every kind of fear.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.10.16.54)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्थं स नागपत्नीभिर्भगवान् समभिष्टुतः । मूर्च्छितं भग्नशिरसं विससर्जाङ्घ्रिकुट्टनैः ॥ 16.54 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca itthaṁ sa nāga-patnībhir bhagavān samabhiṣṭutaḥ mūrcchitaṁ bhagna-śirasaṁ visasarjāṅghri-kuṭṭanaiḥ

Shukadeva said: Thus praised by the serpent's wives, the Lord released Kaliya, whose heads had been shattered and who had fallen unconscious under the blows of His feet.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.10.16.55)

प्रतिलब्धेन्द्रियप्राणः कालियः शनकैर्हरिम् । कृच्छ्रात् समुच्छ्वसन् दीनः कृष्णं प्राह कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 16.55 ॥

pratilabdhendriya-prāṇaḥ kāliyaḥ śanakair harim kṛcchrāt samucchvasan dīnaḥ kṛṣṇaṁ prāha kṛtāñjaliḥ

Slowly regaining his senses and his breath, drawing each breath with difficulty, the wretched Kaliya, hands folded, addressed Krishna, the Lord.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.10.16.56)

कालिय उवाच वयं खलाः सहोत्पत्त्या तामसा दीर्घमन्यवः । स्वभावो दुस्त्यजो नाथ लोकानां यदसद्ग्रहः ॥ 16.56 ॥

kāliya uvāca vayaṁ khalāḥ sahotpattyā tamasā dīrgha-manyavaḥ svabhāvo dustyajo nātha lokānāṁ yad asad-grahaḥ

Kaliya said: O Lord, we are cruel by birth, steeped in the mode of darkness, holding our anger long. It is truly hard for any creature to abandon its own nature, by which it clings to the unreal as though it were real.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.10.16.57)

त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं धातर्गुणविसर्जनम् । नानास्वभाववीर्यौजोयोनिबीजाशयाकृति ॥ 16.57 ॥

tvayā sṛṣṭam idaṁ viśvaṁ dhātar guṇa-visarjanam nānā-svabhāva-vīryaujo- yoni-bījāśayākṛti

O creator, it is You who fashioned this whole universe, this scattering-forth of the modes of nature, filled with beings of such varied natures, vigor, strength, wombs, seeds, dispositions and forms.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.10.16.58)

वयं च तत्र भगवन् सर्पा जात्युरुमन्यवः । कथं त्यजामस्त्वन्मायां दुस्त्यजां मोहिताः स्वयम् ॥ 16.58 ॥

vayaṁ ca tatra bhagavan sarpā jāty-uru-manyavaḥ kathaṁ tyajāmas tvan-māyāṁ dustyajāṁ mohitāḥ svayam

O Lord, within that same creation, we serpents too are by our very species prone to great wrath. Deluded as we are by Your maya, which is so hard to renounce, how could we possibly cast it off by ourselves?

Verse 59 (bhagavata.10.16.59)

भवान् हि कारणं तत्र सर्वज्ञो जगदीश्वरः । अनुग्रहं निग्रहं वा मन्यसे तद् विधेहि नः ॥ 16.59 ॥

bhavān hi kāraṇaṁ tatra sarva-jño jagad-īśvaraḥ anugrahaṁ nigrahaṁ vā manyase tad vidhehi naḥ

You alone are the cause of freedom from that illusion, for You are the all-knowing Lord of the universe. Whatever You judge fitting for us — grace or punishment — grant us that.

Verse 60 (bhagavata.10.16.60)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचः प्राह भगवान् कार्यमानुषः । नात्र स्थेयं त्वया सर्प समुद्रं याहि मा चिरम् । स्वज्ञात्यपत्यदाराढ्यो गोनृभिर्भुज्यते नदी ॥ 16.60 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity ākarṇya vacaḥ prāha bhagavān kārya-mānuṣaḥ nātra stheyaṁ tvayā sarpa samudraṁ yāhi mā ciram sva-jñāty-apatya-dārāḍhyo go-nṛbhir bhujyate nadī

Shukadeva said: Hearing these words, the Lord, playing His human role, replied: O serpent, you may not remain here; go at once to the ocean, without delay, taking with you your kin, your children and your wives. Let this river now be enjoyed by the cows and by men.

Verse 61 (bhagavata.10.16.61)

य एतत् संस्मरेन्मर्त्यस्तुभ्यं मदनुशासनम् । कीर्तयन्नुभयोः सन्ध्योर्न युष्मद् भयमाप्नुयात् ॥ 16.61 ॥

ya etat saṁsmaren martyas tubhyaṁ mad-anuśāsanam kīrtayann ubhayoḥ sandhyor na yuṣmad bhayam āpnuyāt

Whoever among mortals remembers this instruction I have given you, and recites it morning and evening, will never have cause to fear you.

Verse 62 (bhagavata.10.16.62)

योऽस्मिन् स्नात्वा मदाक्रीडे देवादींस्तर्पयेज्जलैः । उपोष्य मां स्मरन्नर्चेत् सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ 16.62 ॥

yo ’smin snātvā mad-ākrīḍe devādīṁs tarpayej jalaiḥ upoṣya māṁ smarann arcet sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Whoever bathes in this place of My pastimes and offers water in libation to the gods and others, or observes a fast and worships Me with remembrance, is freed from every sin.

Verse 63 (bhagavata.10.16.63)

द्वीपं रमणकं हित्वा ह्रदमेतमुपाश्रितः । यद्भयत्स सुपर्णस्त्वां नाद्यान्मत्पादलाञ्छितम् ॥ 16.63 ॥

dvīpaṁ ramaṇakaṁ hitvā hradam etam upāśritaḥ yad-bhayāt sa suparṇas tvāṁ nādyān mat-pāda-lāñchitam

Out of fear of that same Garuda, you left Ramanaka Island and took refuge in this lake — but now, marked as you are with My footprint, Garuda will never devour you.

Verse 64 (bhagavata.10.16.64)

श्रीऋषिरुवाच मुक्तो भगवता राजन् कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । तं पूजयामास मुदा नागपत्न्यश्च सादरम् ॥ 16.64 ॥

śrī-ṛṣir uvāca mukto bhagavatā rājan kṛṣṇenādbhuta-karmaṇā taṁ pūjayām āsa mudā nāga-patnyaś ca sādaram

The sage said: O King, released thus by Krishna, the Lord of wonderful deeds, Kaliya, together with his wives, worshiped Him with joy and reverence.

Verse 65 (bhagavata.10.16.65)

दिव्याम्बरस्रङ्मणिभिः परार्ध्यैरपि भूषणैः । दिव्यगन्धानुलेपैश्च महत्योत्पलमालया ॥ 16.65 ॥

divyāmbara-sraṅ-maṇibhiḥ parārdhyair api bhūṣaṇaiḥ divya-gandhānulepaiś ca mahatyotpala-mālayā

They worshiped Him with celestial garments, garlands and jewels, with priceless ornaments, with divine fragrant unguents, and with a great garland woven of lotus blossoms.

Verse 66 (bhagavata.10.16.66)

पूजयित्वा जगन्नाथं प्रसाद्य गरुडध्वजम् । ततः प्रीतोऽभ्यनुज्ञातः परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य तम् ॥ 16.66 ॥

pūjayitvā jagan-nāthaṁ prasādya garuḍa-dhvajam tataḥ prīto ’bhyanujñātaḥ parikramyābhivandya tam

Having thus worshiped the Lord of the universe and pleased Him whose banner bears Garuda, Kaliya, now content, received His permission, circled Him in reverence, and offered his obeisances.

Verse 67 (bhagavata.10.16.67)

सकलत्रसुहृत्पुत्रो द्वीपमब्धेर्जगाम ह । तदैव सामृतजला यमुना निर्विषाभवत् । अनुग्रहाद् भगवतः क्रीडामानुषरूपिणः ॥ 16.67 ॥

sa-kalatra-suhṛt-putro dvīpam abdher jagāma ha tadaiva sāmṛta-jalā yamunā nirviṣābhavat anugrahād bhagavataḥ krīḍā-mānuṣa-rūpiṇaḥ

Together with his wives, kinsmen and sons, he departed for that island in the sea. And at that very moment, by the grace of the Lord who sports in a human form, the Yamuna's waters became free of poison and turned sweet as nectar.