Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

गाव: सपाला एतेन दावाग्ने: परिमोचिता: । कालियो दमित: सर्प इन्द्रश्च विमद: कृत: ॥ २६ ॥ सप्ताहमेकहस्तेन धृतोऽद्रिप्रवरोऽमुना । वर्षवाताशनिभ्यश्च परित्रातं च गोकुलम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

gāvaḥ sa-pālā etena dāvāgneḥ parimocitāḥ kāliyo damitaḥ sarpa indraś ca vimadaḥ kṛtaḥ

Translation

He saved the cows and the cowherds from a forest fire and subdued the serpent Kāliya. He removed Lord Indra’s false pride by holding up the best of mountains with one hand for an entire week, thus protecting the inhabitants of Gokula from rain, wind and hail.

Synonyms

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-pālāḥ: together with the herdsmen
• sa-pālāḥ: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/with-phrase)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva ‘with protectors/herdsmen’; Masculine Nominative Plural agreeing with gāvaḥ in sense (cows along with herdsmen)

• etena: by him
• etena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• dāvāgneḥ: from the forest fire
• dāvāgneḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāvāgni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘forest-fire’; Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular

• parimocitāḥ: were freed
• parimocitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु) + pari- (उपसर्ग) + parimocita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Plural; from √muc (मुच्) with pari- ‘to release completely’

• kāliyaḥ: Kāliya
• kāliyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāliya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• damitaḥ: subdued
• damitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dam (धातु) + damita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; from √dam (दम्) ‘to subdue’

• sarpaḥ: the serpent
• sarpaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; apposition to kāliyaḥ

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vimadaḥ: humbled / free of pride
• vimadaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi- (उपसर्ग) + mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate adjective

• kṛtaḥ: was made
• kṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; from √kṛ (कृ) ‘to make’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting devotees from danger?

This verse recalls that Kṛṣṇa rescued the cows and cowherds from a forest fire, showing His role as the divine protector of those who take shelter of Him.

What is the spiritual meaning of Kaliya being subdued by Krishna?

Kāliya’s subjugation illustrates that Kṛṣṇa can conquer even the most poisonous, destructive forces when one is brought under His control and grace.

How can the lesson of Indra becoming free from pride apply in modern life?

It teaches that power and success can intoxicate, but devotion and remembrance of the Supreme help one become humble and responsible rather than ego-driven.