Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

तं जिह्वया द्विशिखया परिलेलिहानं द्वे सृक्‍वणी ह्यतिकरालविषाग्निद‍ृष्टिम् । क्रीडन्नमुं परिससार यथा खगेन्द्रो बभ्राम सोऽप्यवसरं प्रसमीक्षमाण: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ jihvayā dvi-śikhayā parilelihānaṁ dve sṛkvaṇī hy ati-karāla-viṣāgni-dṛṣṭim krīḍann amuṁ parisasāra yathā khagendro babhrāma so ’py avasaraṁ prasamīkṣamāṇaḥ

Translation

Again and again Kāliya licked his lips with his bifurcated tongue, staring at Kṛṣṇa with a glance of terrible, poisonous fire. Yet Kṛṣṇa playfully circled him, as Garuḍa plays with a snake, and Kāliya too moved about, seeking a chance to bite the Lord.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जिह्वया: with (his) tongue
• जिह्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• द्विशिखया: two-forked
• द्विशिखया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि-शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वे शिखे यस्याः)

• परिलेलिहानम्: licking (him) all over
• परिलेलिहानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√लिह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'licking all around'

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• सृक्वणी: jaws / corners of the mouth
• सृक्वणी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृक्वणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (or प्रथमा with 'two jaws'); here as object/feature described

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle/emphasis)

• अतिकरालविषाग्निदृष्टिम्: with a gaze like terribly fierce poisonous fire
• अतिकरालविषाग्निदृष्टिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-कराल-विष-अग्नि-दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभाव (अति+कराल) + तत्पुरुष (विषाग्निः इव दृष्टिः)

• क्रीडन्: sporting / playing
• क्रीडन्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'playing'

• अमुम्: that one (him)
• अमुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिससार: circled around
• परिससार: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√सृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative)

• खगेन्द्रः: the king of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् इन्द्रः)

• बभ्राम: moved about / circled
• बभ्राम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• अवसरम्: an opening / opportunity
• अवसरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रसमीक्षमाणः: carefully watching for
• प्रसमीक्षमाणः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सम्√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'carefully watching/looking for'

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa moved around the serpent so skillfully that Kāliya could find no opportunity to bite Him. Thus the snake was defeated by Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental agility.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the meaning of Kṛṣṇa circling Kāliya in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.16?

This verse depicts Kṛṣṇa fearlessly and playfully circling the serpent, showing divine mastery over deadly danger while Kāliya searches for a chance to strike.

Why is Garuḍa mentioned in the Kāliya episode of the Bhāgavatam?

Garuḍa is invoked as the classic serpent-subduer; the comparison highlights Kṛṣṇa’s effortless supremacy, as He moves like the ‘king of birds’ around a snake.

How can the lesson of Kāliya waiting for an opening apply in modern life?

Like Kāliya looking for an opportunity, harmful habits and negativity seek openings; steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and disciplined attention help close those openings and remain protected.