Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तं प्रेक्षणीयसुकुमारघनावदातं श्रीवत्सपीतवसनं स्मितसुन्दरास्यम् । क्रीडन्तमप्रतिभयं कमलोदराङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रि सन्दश्य मर्मसु रुषा भुजया चछाद ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

Kāliya saw that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who wore yellow silken garments, was very delicate, His attractive body shining like a glowing white cloud, His chest bearing the mark of Śrīvatsa, His face smiling beautifully and His feet resembling the whorl of a lotus flower. The Lord was playing fearlessly in the water. Despite His wonderful appearance, the envious Kāliya furiously bit Him on the chest and then completely enwrapped Him in his coils.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object of sandaśya/cachāda)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prekṣaṇīya-sukumāra-ghana-avadātam: beautiful to behold, very tender, and brilliantly fair
• prekṣaṇīya-sukumāra-ghana-avadātam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of tam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prekṣaṇīya (कृदन्त; √īkṣ ईक्ष्, potential/णीय) + sukumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + avadāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय-समासः (a cluster of qualifiers)

• śrīvatsa-pīta-vasanam: wearing yellow garments, bearing the Śrīvatsa mark
• śrīvatsa-pīta-vasanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīvatsa (प्रातिपदिक) + pīta (कृदन्त; √pā पा/पी, PPP 'yellow') + vasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ('having yellow garments' and marked with Śrīvatsa)

• smita-sundara-āsyam: with a smiling, lovely face
• smita-sundara-āsyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः ('face that is beautiful with a smile')

• krīḍantam: playing
• krīḍantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √krīḍ क्रीड् (कृदन्त; शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)

• apratibhayam: fearless
• apratibhayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pratibhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; नञ्-समास/negated adjective

• kamala-udara-aṅghrim: whose feet are like the inside of a lotus
• kamala-udara-aṅghrim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः ('lotus-belly-footed' → feet like lotus interiors)

• sandaśya: having bitten
• sandaśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √daś दंश्/दश् (सम् + √daś; absolutive/क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal; 'having bitten'

• marmasu: in the vital spots
• marmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ruṣā: with anger
• ruṣā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruṣ (प्रातिपदिक; 'anger')
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhujayā: with (his) arm
• bhujayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• cachāda: covered/overwhelmed (him)
• cachāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chad छद् (लिट्/Perfect)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya

FAQs

What happens when Kaliya attacks Krishna in Bhagavatam 10.16?

This verse describes Kāliya angrily biting Kṛṣṇa at vital points and tightly coiling around Him, even as Kṛṣṇa remains fearless and playful.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe Krishna’s beauty (Śrīvatsa, yellow cloth, smiling face) during danger?

To show that the Lord’s transcendental form is ever-auspicious and untouched by fear; His beauty and serenity reveal His supremacy even when confronted by a deadly serpent.

What is the practical lesson from Krishna staying fearless while being attacked?

The verse teaches steadiness and trust in divine protection: fearlessness grows when one remembers the Lord’s sovereignty and keeps the mind anchored in devotion rather than panic.