Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 32

Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā

Devanagari script

तास्तं सुविग्नमनसोऽथ पुरस्कृतार्भा: कायं निधाय भुवि भूतपतिं प्रणेमु: । साध्व्य: कृताञ्जलिपुटा: शमलस्य भर्तु- र्मोक्षेप्सव: शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्ना: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

Their minds very much disturbed, those saintly ladies placed their children before them and then bowed down to the Lord of all creatures, laying their bodies flat upon the ground. They desired the liberation of their sinful husband and the shelter of the Supreme Lord, the giver of ultimate shelter, and thus they folded their hands in supplication and approached Him.

Synonyms

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• su-vigna-manasaḥ: with greatly distressed minds
• su-vigna-manasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vigna (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi-like adjectival compound used as adjective; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन); 'whose minds are greatly agitated'

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle/conjunction (समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक)

• puraskṛta-arbhāḥ: having put the children forward
• puraskṛta-arbhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puraskṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ, कृ धातु) + arbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'puraskṛtāḥ arbhāḥ' = 'having placed the children in front'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन) agreeing with tāḥ

• kāyam: body
• kāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• nidhāya: having laid down
• nidhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु) with ni- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having placed/laid down'

• bhuvi: on the ground
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) singular (एकवचन)

• bhūta-patim: the lord of beings (Śiva)
• bhūta-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'bhūtānāṁ patiḥ'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• praṇemuḥ: they bowed down
• praṇemuḥ: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ? actually Perfect-like narrative: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist) 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sādhvyaḥ: the chaste women
• sādhvyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to tāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन)

• kṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ: with hands folded in supplication
• kṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ, कृ धातु) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'kṛtaḥ añjali-puṭaḥ' (hands folded as a hollow/puṭa); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन)

• śamalasya: of sin/impurity
• śamalasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Masculine usage; Genitive (षष्ठी) singular (एकवचन)

• bhartuḥ: of the husband/lord
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) singular (एकवचन)

• mokṣa-īpsavaḥ: desiring liberation
• mokṣa-īpsavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + īpsu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'mokṣam īpsavaḥ' (desiring liberation); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन)

• śaraṇa-dam: the giver of refuge
• śaraṇa-dam: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √dā, दा धातु)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'śaraṇaṁ dadāti' (giver of refuge); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन) agreeing with tam

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म) (object of prapannāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• prapannāḥ: having surrendered
• prapannāḥ: Kriyā (predicate of Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (पद् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त; PPP) used predicatively; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• wives of Kāliya
• children of Kāliya

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter (śaraṇāgati) of Krishna?

This verse shows the wives of Kāliya prostrating and surrendering to Kṛṣṇa as the only true refuge (śaraṇa), describing Him as śaraṇadam—the giver of shelter—who can deliver one from fear and sin.

Why did Kāliya’s wives approach Krishna with their children in front?

Overwhelmed with fear for their husband and family, they placed their children forward and bowed to Kṛṣṇa, appealing to His compassion and seeking protection and deliverance.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

When facing anxiety, guilt, or family crises, the verse teaches humble surrender—turning to God with sincerity, offering respect, and seeking inner purification rather than relying only on pride or control.