Shloka 56
Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā
कालिय उवाच वयं खला: सहोत्पत्त्या तामसा दीर्घमन्यव: । स्वभावो दुस्त्यजो नाथ लोकानां यदसद्ग्रह: ॥ ५६ ॥
kāliya uvāca vayaṁ khalāḥ sahotpattyā tamasā dīrgha-manyavaḥ svabhāvo dustyajo nātha lokānāṁ yad asad-grahaḥ
Kāliya sprach: O Herr, von Geburt an sind wir böse — vom Tamas beherrscht, voller Neid und lang anhaltendem Zorn. Den Wesen fällt es schwer, ihre bedingte Natur aufzugeben, weil sie sich an das Unwirkliche klammern.
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī points out that because of his wretched condition, Kāliya was unable to compose original prayers to the Lord, and thus he paraphrased some of the prayers offered by his wives. The word asad-graha indicates that a conditioned soul seizes upon impermanent and impure things such as his own body, the bodies of others, and other countless varieties of material sense objects. The ultimate result of such material attachment is frustration, disappointment and anguish — a fact that has now become crystal clear to the poor serpent Kāliya.
FAQs
This verse states that beings influenced by tamas can develop deep, long-lasting anger and tend to cling to harmful, false attachments—making spiritual change difficult without higher help.
After being subdued by Kṛṣṇa, Kāliya admits his innate wickedness and tamasic conditioning, appealing to Kṛṣṇa as Lord and implicitly seeking mercy despite his nature.
Recognize how ingrained habits and anger can feel “natural,” then consciously seek purification—through humility, self-control, and devotion—rather than justifying harmful tendencies as unchangeable.