Shloka 10

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

तद् एतन् नातिदूरस्थं कदम्बम् उरुशाखिनम् अधिरुह्योत्पतिष्यामि ह्रदे ऽस्मिन्न् अनिलाशिनः

Transliteration

tad etan nātidūrasthaṃ kadambam uruśākhinam adhiruhyotpatiṣyāmi hrade 'sminn anilāśinaḥ

Translation

ওখানে—বেশি দূরে নয়—প্রশস্ত শাখাবিশিষ্ট সেই কদম্ব গাছটি আছে। তাতে উঠে আমি এই হ্রদে ঝাঁপ দেব, যা বায়ুভক্ষকের (কালিয়ের) আবাস।

Word by Word

तत्then/that

एतत्this

नातिदूरस्थम्not very far away

कदम्बम्kadamba tree

उरुशाखिनम्having broad branches

अधिरुह्यhaving climbed

उत्पतिष्यामिI shall leap/jump

ह्रदेin the lake

अस्मिन्in this

अनिलाशिनःof the wind-eater (serpent)

Speaker

Sri Krishna (addressing the cowherd companions in the Kāliya episode)

Characters & Entities

Krishna

Kadamba tree

Lake (Yamunā pool/hradā)

Kāliya (anila-āśin)

FAQs

What is the significance of the kadamba tree in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It functions as the immediate narrative pivot: Krishna identifies the kadamba as the launch point for his deliberate descent into the poisoned lake, signaling controlled divine action rather than human risk.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s intent in this scene?

In Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya, Krishna’s decision to jump into the lake frames the avatāra’s role as the restorer of order—entering danger willingly to neutralize a disruptive, dharma-opposing force.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

The verse emphasizes Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty expressed through Krishna: he confronts the ‘wind-devouring’ menace directly, safeguarding devotees and re-establishing cosmic and social harmony.