Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

सर्पह्रद: पुरुषसारनिपातवेग- सङ्‌क्षोभितोरगविषोच्छ्वसिताम्बुराशि: । पर्यक्‍प्लुतो विषकषायबिभीषणोर्मि- र्धावन् धनु:शतमनन्तबलस्य किं तत् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

sarpa-hradaḥ puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega- saṅkṣobhitoraga-viṣocchvasitāmbu-rāśiḥ paryak pluto viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇormir dhāvan dhanuḥ-śatam ananta-balasya kiṁ tat

Translation

When the Supreme Lord of infinite strength entered the serpent’s lake, the nāgas there were violently agitated and, breathing out poison, further defiled the waters. By the force of His descent the lake overflowed on every side, and dreadful, venom-laden waves flooded the surrounding land for a hundred bow-lengths. Yet for the Lord of boundless power, this is no wonder.

Synonyms

• sarpa-hradaḥ: the serpent-lake
• sarpa-hradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hrada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarpaṇām hradaḥ)

• puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega-saṅkṣobhitaḥ: agitated by the force of the plunge of the best of men
• puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega-saṅkṣobhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarpa-hradaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkṣobhita (कृदन्त; √kṣubh क्षुभ्, past passive participle) with puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nipāta (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) agreeing with hradaḥ; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega = 'force of the plunge of the best of men')

• uraga-viṣa-ucchvasita-ambu-rāśiḥ: a mass of water exhaled with serpent-poison
• uraga-viṣa-ucchvasita-ambu-rāśiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarpa-hradaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uraga (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ucchvasita (कृदन्त; √śvas श्वस्, PPP) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (rāśiḥ of water 'breathed out' with serpent-poison)

• paryak: all around
• paryak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paryak (अव्यय/indeclinable form; adverbial)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'all around/entirely'

• plutaḥ: overflowing / flooded
• plutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pluta (कृदन्त; √plu प्लु, PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) agreeing with hradaḥ

• viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇa-ūrmiḥ: with terrifying waves darkened by poison
• viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇa-ūrmiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of hradaḥ via apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṣāya (प्रातिपदिक) + bibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (ūrmiḥ characterized by terrifying poison-darkness)

• dhāvan: rushing / running
• dhāvan: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhāv धाव् (कृदन्त; शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) agreeing with hradaḥ

• dhanuḥ-śatam: a hundred bow-lengths
• dhanuḥ-śatam: Adhikaraṇa/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/Measure-extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanuḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; माप्य-तत्पुरुषः (śata of bows) used as measure of extent

• ananta-balasya: of the one of infinite strength (Balarāma)
• ananta-balasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; कर्मधारयः ('whose strength is endless')

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक; interrogative pronoun)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• tat: that
• tat: Prashna-viṣaya (प्रश्नविषय/That referred thing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; demonstrative pronoun)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; निर्देशवाचक सर्वनाम

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• Ananta (Lord Balarāma/Śeṣa as epithet of the Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s power over poison and danger?

This verse describes the serpent lake erupting with poison-colored, terrifying waves, yet declares such danger insignificant before the Lord’s infinite strength—showing Kṛṣṇa’s complete mastery over deadly forces.

Why is the Kaliya lake described as terrifying and poisonous in Canto 10 Chapter 16?

Because the waters were saturated by the snakes’ poisonous breath; when Kṛṣṇa entered, the lake churned and overflowed with venom-hued waves, emphasizing the peril He neutralizes in His līlā.

Practical application: how can a devotee use this teaching in modern life?

When overwhelmed by ‘poisonous’ situations—fear, toxic influence, or crisis—remembering the Lord’s ananta-bala inspires faith and steadiness: dangers may surge, but they are not ultimate for one who takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa.