Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 31

Uddhava’s Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and the Theology of the Lord’s Disappearance

Devanagari script

विपन्नान् विषपानेन निगृह्य भुजगाधिपम् । उत्थाप्यापाययद्गावस्तत्तोयं प्रकृतिस्थितम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

vipannān viṣa-pānena nigṛhya bhujagādhipam utthāpyāpāyayad gāvas tat toyaṁ prakṛti-sthitam

Translation

The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were perplexed by great difficulties because a certain portion of the Yamunā was poisoned by the chief of the reptiles [Kāliya]. The Lord chastised the snake-king within the water and drove him away, and after coming out of the river, He caused the cows to drink the water and proved that the water was again in its natural state.

Synonyms

• विपन्नान्: distressed, imperiled
• विपन्नान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-पद् (धातु) → विपन्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषण of गावः (understood as affected)

• विषपानेन: by drinking poison
• विषपानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषपान (प्रातिपदिक) [विष + पान]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• निगृह्य: having subdued
• निगृह्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• भुजगाधिपम्: the lord of serpents (Kāliya)
• भुजगाधिपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजगाधिप (प्रातिपदिक) [भुजग + अधिप]
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• उत्थाप्य: having raised (them) up
• उत्थाप्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having lifted/raised’

• अपाययत्: made (them) drink, gave to drink
• अपाययत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-पा (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• गावः: the cows
• गावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण of तोयम्

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रकृतिस्थितम्: restored to its natural state
• प्रकृतिस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृतिस्थित (प्रातिपदिक) [प्रकृति + स्थित]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण of तोयम्

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• Gopas (cowherds)
• Cows

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna purifying poison and danger?

This verse describes how the Lord subdued the serpent-king and restored the poisoned water to its natural state, showing that His presence can neutralize danger and purify what is contaminated.

Who is the 'lord of serpents' mentioned in this Bhagavatam verse?

The 'bhujagādhipa' refers to Kāliya, the serpent king subdued by Lord Kṛṣṇa in His līlā of protecting the residents of Vraja.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches trust in divine protection and the power of purity: with sincere devotion and right association, even “poisonous” influences—fear, habits, negativity—can be transformed and restored to a healthy state.