Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तत्प्रथ्यमानवपुषा व्यथितात्मभोग- स्त्यक्त्वोन्नमय्य कुपित: स्वफणान् भुजङ्ग: । तस्थौ श्वसञ्छ्वसनरन्ध्रविषाम्बरीष- स्तब्धेक्षणोल्मुकमुखो हरिमीक्षमाण: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

tat-prathyamāna-vapuṣā vyathitātma-bhogas tyaktvonnamayya kupitaḥ sva-phaṇān bhujaṅgaḥ tasthau śvasañ chvasana-randhra-viṣāmbarīṣa- stabdhekṣaṇolmuka-mukho harim īkṣamāṇaḥ

Translation

Tormented by the Lord’s expanding body, Kāliya released Him. Enraged, the serpent raised his hoods high and stood still, breathing heavily; his nostrils seemed like vessels for boiling poison and his staring eyes like firebrands, as he glared at Hari.

Synonyms

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध (in compound), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• प्रथ्यमानवपुषा: by the (being) expanded body
• प्रथ्यमानवपुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथ्यमान-वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्रथ्यमानं वपुः)

• व्यथितात्मभोगः: whose own enjoyment/comfort was pained
• व्यथितात्मभोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यथित-आत्म-भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः भोगः) + विशेषण (व्यथित)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having abandoned'

• उन्नमय्य: having lifted up
• उन्नमय्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्√नम् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त धातु (causative) + क्त्वान्त (absolutive); 'having raised'

• कुपितः: enraged
• कुपितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वफणान्: his own hoods
• स्वफणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-फण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वाः फणाः)

• भुजङ्गः: the serpent
• भुजङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• श्वसन्: breathing
• श्वसन्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'breathing'

• श्वसनरन्ध्रविषाम्बरीषस्तब्धेक्षणोल्मुकमुखः: whose face was like a blazing brand, eyes fixed, emitting poisonous fumes from the breathing-passages
• श्वसनरन्ध्रविषाम्बरीषस्तब्धेक्षणोल्मुकमुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वसन-रन्ध्र-विष-अम्बरीष-स्तब्ध-ईक्षण-उल्मुक-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्य मुखं (उल्मुकवत्) स्तब्धेक्षणं, श्वसनरन्ध्रेभ्यः विषाम्बरीषः (विषधूम/विषवाष्पः) यस्य'

• हरिम्: Hari (Krishna)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईक्षमाणः: looking at
• ईक्षमाणः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'looking at'

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Hari)
• Kāliya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kāliya’s reaction when Kṛṣṇa tramples him?

This verse describes Kāliya, pained by being trampled, rising in anger with his hoods lifted, hissing and emitting poisonous fumes while staring fixedly at Lord Hari.

Why did Kāliya become angry at Kṛṣṇa in Canto 10 Chapter 16?

Because Kṛṣṇa was overpowering him by dancing on his hoods; Kāliya’s attempt to dominate and “enjoy” through strength failed, provoking rage and a renewed posture of attack.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

When ego feels “trampled” by truth or discipline, anger can flare up like poison; the verse encourages recognizing that impulse and turning toward humility and surrender rather than retaliation.