Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
दमनं कालियस्याहेर्महाहेर्नन्दमोक्षणम् । व्रतचर्या तु कन्यानां यत्र तुष्टोऽच्युतो व्रतै: ॥ ३१ ॥ प्रसादो यज्ञपत्नीभ्यो विप्राणां चानुतापनम् । गोवर्धनोद्धारणं च शक्रस्य सुरभेरथ ॥ ३२ ॥ यज्ञाभिषेक: कृष्णस्य स्त्रीभि: क्रीडा च रात्रिषु । शङ्खचूडस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्वधोऽरिष्टस्य केशिन: ॥ ३३ ॥
damanaṁ kāliyasyāher mahāher nanda-mokṣaṇam vrata-caryā tu kanyānāṁ yatra tuṣṭo ’cyuto vrataiḥ
The chastisement of the serpent Kāliya; the rescue of Nanda Mahārāja from a great snake; the severe vows performed by the young gopīs, who thus satisfied Lord Kṛṣṇa; the mercy He showed the wives of the Vedic brāhmaṇas, who felt remorse; the lifting of Govardhana Hill followed by the worship and bathing ceremony performed by Indra and the Surabhi cow; Lord Kṛṣṇa’s nocturnal pastimes with the cowherd girls; and the killing of the foolish demons Śaṅkhacūḍa, Ariṣṭa and Keśī — all these pastimes are elaborately recounted.
FAQs
This verse recalls that Lord Kṛṣṇa subdued the serpent Kāliya, establishing His role as the divine protector of His devotees and Vraja.
Śukadeva summarizes major Vraja pastimes together: Kṛṣṇa’s protection (saving Nanda) and His loving reciprocation with devotion (being pleased by the maidens’ vows).
Undertake sincere, disciplined devotional practices (vrata, prayer, service) with purity of intention—Bhāgavatam emphasizes that heartfelt dedication is what truly pleases the Lord.