The History of Kaliya

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.17.1)

श्रीराजोवाच नागालयं रमणकं कथं तत्याज कालियः । कृतं किं वा सुपर्णस्य तेनैकेनासमञ्जसम् ॥ 17.1 ॥

śrī-rājovāca nāgālayaṁ ramaṇakaṁ kathaṁ tatyāja kāliyaḥ kṛtaṁ kiṁ vā suparṇasya tenaikenāsamañjasam

King Parikshit said: Why did Kaliya abandon Ramanaka, the abode of the serpents? And what improper thing had he alone done to Garuda?

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.17.2)

श्रीशुक उवाच उपहार्यैः सर्पजनैर्मासि मासीह यो बलिः । वानस्पत्यो महाबाहो नागानां प्राङ्निरूपितः ॥ 17.2 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca upahāryaiḥ sarpa-janair māsi māsīha yo baliḥ vānaspatyo mahā-bāho nāgānāṁ prāṅ-nirūpitaḥ

Shukadeva said: O mighty-armed King, long ago it was ordained that the race of serpents would present, month after month, an offering of tribute to Garuda at the foot of a tree.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.17.3)

स्वं स्वं भागं प्रयच्छन्ति नागाः पर्वणि पर्वणि । गोपीथायात्मनः सर्वे सुपर्णाय महात्मने ॥ 17.3 ॥

svaṁ svaṁ bhāgaṁ prayacchanti nāgāḥ parvaṇi parvaṇi gopīthāyātmanaḥ sarve suparṇāya mahātmane

On every such appointed day, each serpent, for the sake of his own protection, would offer his allotted share to the great Suparna, Garuda.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.17.4)

विषवीर्यमदाविष्टः काद्रवेयस्तु कालियः । कदर्थीकृत्य गरुडं स्वयं तं बुभुजे बलिम् ॥ 17.4 ॥

viṣa-vīrya-madāviṣṭaḥ kādraveyas tu kāliyaḥ kadarthī-kṛtya garuḍaṁ svayaṁ taṁ bubhuje balim

But Kaliya, son of Kadru, intoxicated with pride in the strength of his poison, insulted Garuda and himself ate up that offering.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.17.5)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कुपितो राजन् भगवान् भगवत्प्रियः । विजिघांसुर्महावेगः कालियं समुपाद्रवत् ॥ 17.5 ॥

tac chrutvā kupito rājan bhagavān bhagavat-priyaḥ vijighāṁsur mahā-vegaḥ kāliyaṁ samapādravat

O King, hearing this, the mighty Garuda, so dear to the Lord, grew furious and, desiring to kill him, swooped down upon Kaliya with tremendous speed.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.17.6)

तमापतन्तं तरसा विषायुधः प्रत्यभ्ययादुत्थितनैकमस्तकः । दद्भिः सुपर्णं व्यदशद् ददायुधः करालजिह्वोच्छ्वसितोग्रलोचनः ॥ 17.6 ॥

tam āpatantaṁ tarasā viṣāyudhaḥ pratyabhyayād utthita-naika-mastakaḥ dadbhiḥ suparṇaṁ vyadaśad dad-āyudhaḥ karāla-jihrocchvasitogra-locanaḥ

To meet Garuda as he came swooping down, Kaliya — for whom poison itself was a weapon — raised his many hoods and advanced; with terrible tongues flickering, breathing hard, his eyes fierce, the serpent bit Garuda with the weapons of his fangs.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.17.7)

तं तार्क्ष्यपुत्रः स निरस्य मन्युमान् प्रचण्डवेगो मधुसूदनासनः । पक्षेण सव्येन हिरण्यरोचिषा जघान कद्रुसुतमुग्रविक्रमः ॥ 17.7 ॥

taṁ tārkṣya-putraḥ sa nirasya manyumān pracaṇḍa-vego madhusūdanāsanaḥ pakṣeṇa savyena hiraṇya-rociṣā jaghāna kadru-sutam ugra-vikramaḥ

Then the enraged son of Tarkshya, that fiercely swift and powerful carrier of Madhusudana, shook him off and struck the son of Kadru with his golden, gleaming left wing.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.17.8)

सुपर्णपक्षाभिहतः कालियोऽतीव विह्वलः । ह्रदं विवेश कालिन्द्यास्तदगम्यं दुरासदम् ॥ 17.8 ॥

suparṇa-pakṣābhihataḥ kāliyo ’tīva vihvalaḥ hradaṁ viveśa kālindyās tad-agamyaṁ durāsadam

Struck by Garuda's wing, Kaliya, utterly overwhelmed, fled into that lake of the Kalindi which Garuda could not enter, so difficult was it even to approach.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.17.9)

तत्रैकदा जलचरं गरुडो भक्ष्यमीप्सितम् । निवारितः सौभरिणा प्रसह्य क्षुधितोऽहरत् ॥ 17.9 ॥

tatraikadā jala-caraṁ garuḍo bhakṣyam īpsitam nivāritaḥ saubhariṇā prasahya kṣudhito ’harat

Once, in that same lake, Garuda desired to seize a fish he craved as food; though forbidden by the sage Saubhari, driven by hunger he forcibly carried it off.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.17.10)

मीनान्सुदुःखितान्दृष्ट्वा दीनान्मीनपतौ हते । कृपया सौभरिः प्राह तत्रत्यक्षेममाचरन् ॥ 17.10 ॥

mīnān su-duḥkhitān dṛṣṭvā dīnān mīna-patau hate kṛpayā saubhariḥ prāha tatratya-kṣemam ācaran

Seeing the fish, grief-stricken and helpless at the death of their leader, the sage Saubhari, out of compassion and wishing well for all creatures there, spoke this word.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.17.11)

अत्र प्रविश्य गरुडो यदि मत्स्यान् स खादति । सद्यः प्राणैर्वियुज्येत सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ 17.11 ॥

atra praviśya garuḍo yadi matsyān sa khādati sadyaḥ prāṇair viyujyeta satyam etad bravīmy aham

If Garuda ever again enters this place and eats the fish, he shall at once lose his life — this I speak as truth.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.17.12)

तत् कालियः परं वेद नान्यः कश्चन लेलिहः । अवात्सीद् गरुडाद् भीतः कृष्णेन च विवासितः ॥ 17.12 ॥

tat kāliyaḥ paraṁ veda nānyaḥ kaścana lelihaḥ avātsīd garuḍād bhītaḥ kṛṣṇena ca vivāsitaḥ

Of that curse only Kaliya, among all serpents, knew; and so, in fear of Garuda, he made that lake his home — until Krishna in turn drove him from it.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.17.13)

कृष्णं ह्रदाद्विनिष्क्रान्तं दिव्यस्रग्गन्धवाससम् । महामणिगणाकीर्णं जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम् ॥ 17.13 ॥

kṛṣṇaṁ hradād viniṣkrāntaṁ divya-srag-gandha-vāsasam mahā-maṇi-gaṇākīrṇaṁ jāmbūnada-pariṣkṛtam

As Krishna emerged from the lake, adorned with celestial garlands, fragrances and garments, covered with an array of great jewels and ornamented with gold —

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.17.14)

उपलभ्योत्थिताः सर्वे लब्धप्राणा इवासवः । प्रमोदनिभृतात्मानो गोपाः प्रीत्याभिरेभिरे ॥ 17.14 ॥

upalabhyotthitāḥ sarve labdha-prāṇā ivāsavaḥ pramoda-nibhṛtātmāno gopāḥ prītyābhirebhire

all the cowherds rose up at once, as though life itself had returned to them, and, overcome with delight, embraced Him with love.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.17.15)

यशोदा रोहिणी नन्दो गोप्यो गोपाश्च कौरव । कृष्णं समेत्य लब्धेहा आसन् शुष्का नगा अपि ॥ 17.15 ॥

yaśodā rohiṇī nando gopyo gopāś ca kaurava kṛṣṇaṁ sametya labdhehā āsan śuṣkā nagā api

O descendant of Kuru, Yashoda, Rohini, Nanda, and all the cowherd men and women, reaching Krishna, felt every longing fulfilled — even the withered trees seemed to come back to life.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.17.16)

रामश्चाच्युतमालिङ्ग्य जहासास्यानुभाववित् । प्रेम्णा तमङ्कमारोप्य पुनः पुनरुदैक्षत । गावो वृषा वत्सतर्यो लेभिरे परमां मुदम् ॥ 17.16 ॥

rāmaś cācyutam āliṅgya jahāsāsyānubhāva-vit premṇā tam aṅkam āropya punaḥ punar udaikṣata gāvo vṛṣā vatsataryo lebhire paramāṁ mudam

Balarama, who fully knew Krishna's power, embraced the infallible Lord and laughed; out of sheer love He set Him upon His lap and gazed at Him again and again. The cows, bulls and calves too were filled with the highest joy.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.17.17)

नन्दं विप्राः समागत्य गुरवः सकलत्रकाः । ऊचुस्ते कालियग्रस्तो दिष्ट्या मुक्तस्तवात्मजः ॥ 17.17 ॥

nandaṁ viprāḥ samāgatya guravaḥ sa-kalatrakāḥ ūcus te kāliya-grasto diṣṭyā muktas tavātmajaḥ

The venerable brahmanas, together with their wives, came before Nanda and said: By great fortune your son, who was caught in Kaliya's grip, is now free.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.17.18)

देहि दानं द्विजातीनां कृष्णनिर्मुक्तिहेतवे । नन्दः प्रीतमना राजन् गाः सुवर्णं तदादिशत् ॥ 17.18 ॥

dehi dānaṁ dvi-jātīnāṁ kṛṣṇa-nirmukti-hetave nandaḥ prīta-manā rājan gāḥ suvarṇaṁ tadādiśat

"Give charity to the brahmanas, for the sake of Krishna's continued safety" — hearing this, O King, Nanda, his heart glad, at once ordered gifts of cows and gold to be given.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.17.19)

यशोदापि महाभागा नष्टलब्धप्रजा सती । परिष्वज्याङ्कमारोप्य मुमोचाश्रुकलां मुहुः ॥ 17.19 ॥

yaśodāpi mahā-bhāgā naṣṭa-labdha-prajā satī pariṣvajyāṅkam āropya mumocāśru-kalāṁ muhuḥ

The greatly fortunate, virtuous Yashoda, having as it were lost her son and regained him, embraced Him, set Him upon her lap, and again and again let fall tears.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.17.20)

तां रात्रिं तत्र राजेन्द्र क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां श्रमकर्षिताः । ऊषुर्व्रयौकसो गावः कालिन्द्या उपकूलतः ॥ 17.20 ॥

tāṁ rātriṁ tatra rājendra kṣut-tṛḍbhyāṁ śrama-karṣitāḥ ūṣur vrayaukaso gāvaḥ kālindyā upakūlataḥ

O best of kings, that night, worn out by hunger, thirst and fatigue, the people of Vraja and their cows stayed right there, close by the bank of the Kalindi.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.17.21)

तदा शुचिवनोद्भूतो दावाग्निः सर्वतो व्रजम् । सुप्तं निशीथ आवृत्य प्रदग्धुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 17.21 ॥

tadā śuci-vanodbhūto dāvāgniḥ sarvato vrajam suptaṁ niśītha āvṛtya pradagdhum upacakrame

Just then, a forest fire, born of the dry summer woods, spread on every side and, in the middle of the night, closed in upon sleeping Vraja to consume it in flame.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.17.22)

तत उत्थाय सम्भ्रान्ता दह्यमाना व्रजौकसः । कृष्णं ययुस्ते शरणं मायामनुजमीश्वरम् ॥ 17.22 ॥

tata utthāya sambhrāntā dahyamānā vrajaukasaḥ kṛṣṇaṁ yayus te śaraṇaṁ māyā-manujam īśvaram

Roused, alarmed, and scorched by the flames, the people of Vraja ran for shelter to Krishna, the Lord who, by His own power, wore the form of a human being.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.17.23)

कृष्ण कृष्ण महाभाग हे रामामितविक्रम । एष घोरतमो वह्निस्तावकान् ग्रसते हि नः ॥ 17.23 ॥

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bhaga he rāmāmita-vikrama eṣa ghoratamo vahnis tāvakān grasate hi naḥ

O Krishna, Krishna, most fortunate one! O Rama of boundless power! This most terrible fire is devouring us, who are Your own.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.17.24)

सुदुस्तरान्नः स्वान् पाहि कालाग्नेः सुहृदः प्रभो । न शक्नुमस्त्वच्चरणं सन्त्यक्तुमकुतोभयम् ॥ 17.24 ॥

su-dustarān naḥ svān pāhi kālāgneḥ suhṛdaḥ prabho na śaknumas tvac-caraṇaṁ santyaktum akuto-bhayam

O Lord, save us, Your own friends, from this unbearable, death-like fire. We cannot bear to give up Your feet, which banish every fear.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.17.25)

इत्थं स्वजनवैक्लव्यं निरीक्ष्य जगदीश्वरः । तमग्निमपिबत्तीव्रमनन्तोऽनन्तशक्तिधृक् ॥ 17.25 ॥

itthaṁ sva-jana-vaiklavyaṁ nirīkṣya jagad-īśvaraḥ tam agnim apibat tīvram ananto ’nanta-śakti-dhṛk

Seeing His own people so distressed, the Lord of the universe, infinite and possessed of infinite power, simply drank up that raging fire.