Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā
तस्याक्षिभिर्गरलमुद्वमत: शिर:सु यद् यत् समुन्नमति नि:श्वसतो रुषोच्चै: । नृत्यन् पदानुनमयन् दमयां बभूव पुष्पै: प्रपूजित इवेह पुमान् पुराण: ॥ २९ ॥
tasyākṣibhir garalam udvamataḥ śiraḥsu yad yat samunnamati niḥśvasato ruṣoccaiḥ nṛtyan padānunamayan damayāṁ babhūva puṣpaiḥ prapūjita iveha pumān purāṇaḥ
كان كاليا يفرز فضلات سامة من عينيه، وكان يجرؤ أحيانًا على رفع أحد رؤوسه، الذي كان يتنفس بصعوبة من الغضب. ثم كان الرب يرقص عليه ويخضعه، ويجبره على الانحناء بقدمه. اتخذ أنصاف الآلهة كلًا من هذه العروض كفرصة لعبادته، شخصية الإله البدائية، بوابل من الزهور.
This verse describes Kṛṣṇa subduing Kāliya by dancing on his many hoods, pressing them down whenever they rise in rage and poison—showing the Lord’s effortless mastery over even the deadliest evil.
Because Kṛṣṇa’s divine dance on Kāliya resembles a victorious, worshipful spectacle—His feet moving like a sacred dance, as though the serpent’s raised hoods were an altar and the moment a flower-offering to the Supreme Person.
When “poison” like anger, hatred, or harmful impulses rise again and again, the teaching is to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa and steady devotion—trusting that sincere surrender brings inner control and purification.