Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

भवान् हि कारणं तत्र सर्वज्ञो जगदीश्वर: । अनुग्रहं निग्रहं वा मन्यसे तद् विधेहि न: ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

O Lord, since You are the omniscient Lord of the universe, You are the actual cause of freedom from illusion. Please arrange for us whatever You consider proper, whether it be mercy or punishment.

Synonyms

• bhavān: you
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-like honorific (भवत्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) expressing emphasis/indeed

• kāraṇam: the cause
• kāraṇam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominative with bhavān

• tatra: there/in that matter
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place/context

• sarva-jñaḥ: omniscient
• sarva-jñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of bhavān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘all-knowing’

• jagad-īśvaraḥ: Lord of the universe
• jagad-īśvaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of bhavān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘lord of the world’

• anugraham: favor
• anugraham: Karma (कर्म/Object of manyase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nigraham: restraint/punishment
• nigraham: Karma (कर्म/Object of manyase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• manyase: you consider
• manyase: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person/मध्यम), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object of vidhehi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; refers to the choice (anugraha/nigraha)

• vidhehi: ordain/do
• vidhehi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु) with vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; √dhā ‘to place/do’ with vi-

• naḥ: for us/to us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी) Plural form; here dative sense ‘for us’

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna's mercy and punishment (anugraha and nigraha)?

This verse teaches that Kṛṣṇa, the all-knowing Lord, is the ultimate cause and may show mercy or administer restraint; both are under His perfect divine will for the soul’s ultimate good.

Why did the wives of Kāliya speak this prayer to Krishna?

Seeing their husband subdued, the Nāga-patnīs surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, acknowledging His supreme authority and asking Him to decide—whether to forgive or punish—according to His wisdom.

How can I apply the teaching of surrender in this shloka in modern life?

Accept that outcomes are ultimately governed by the Lord, and respond with humility and accountability—praying for guidance and accepting correction as a form of spiritual progress.