Shloka 55

Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā

Devanagari script

प्रतिलब्धेन्द्रियप्राण: कालिय: शनकैर्हरिम् । कृच्छ्रात् समुच्छ्वसन् दीन: कृष्णं प्राह कृताञ्जलि: ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

pratilabdhendriya-prāṇaḥ kāliyaḥ śanakair harim kṛcchrāt samucchvasan dīnaḥ kṛṣṇaṁ prāha kṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

Kāliya gewann langsam Lebenskraft und Sinne zurück. Dann, schwer und schmerzhaft atmend, sprach die arme Schlange mit gefalteten Händen in Demut zu Herrn Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• प्रतिलब्ध-इन्द्रिय-प्राणः: having regained senses and breath
• प्रतिलब्ध-इन्द्रिय-प्राणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिलब्ध (कृदन्त; प्रति-√लभ्, क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘प्रतिलब्धौ इन्द्रियौ प्राणश्च यस्य’ = ‘having regained senses and life’

• कालियः: Kāliya
• कालियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शनकैः: slowly
• शनकैः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनकैः (अव्यय/निपात-प्रयोगः)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘slowly, gradually’ (instrumental-form adverb)

• हरिम्: Hari (the Lord)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृच्छ्रात्: with difficulty
• कृच्छ्रात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; adverbial sense ‘with difficulty’

• समुच्छ्वसन्: breathing again
• समुच्छ्वसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-श्वस् (कृदन्त; √श्वस्, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘breathing up/again’

• दीनः: wretched
• दीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies Kāliya

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह (धातु √अह्/√ब्रू ‘to say’, perfect stem आह)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said’

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ, क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘कृतोऽञ्जलिर्येन’ = ‘with hands folded’

Characters & Entities

• Kāliya
• Kṛṣṇa
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about surrendering to Krishna after wrongdoing?

This verse shows Kāliya, after being subdued, regaining his life-breath and approaching Lord Hari with folded hands—illustrating that humility and surrender to Kṛṣṇa are the doorway to mercy even after grave offenses.

Why did Kāliya speak to Krishna with folded hands?

Kāliya had been chastised by Kṛṣṇa and was left distressed and breathless; recognizing Kṛṣṇa as Hari, he approached slowly in fear and repentance and spoke with joined palms as an act of submission.

Practical application of humility and repentance in modern life according to this shloka?

When faced with consequences of harmful actions, pause, regain clarity, and approach the situation with honesty and humility—like Kāliya—seeking forgiveness and making amends rather than defending the ego.