Shloka 21
Garuḍa, Saubhari’s Curse, Kāliya’s Refuge, and Kṛṣṇa Saves Vraja from Forest Fire
तदा शुचिवनोद्भूतो दावाग्नि: सर्वतो व्रजम् । सुप्तं निशीथ आवृत्य प्रदग्धुमुपचक्रमे ॥ २१ ॥
tadā śuci-vanodbhūto dāvāgniḥ sarvato vrajam suptaṁ niśītha āvṛtya pradagdhum upacakrame
Then, from the dry forest arose a raging wildfire; at midnight, while Vraja slept, it surrounded them on all sides and began to scorch them.
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura have commented that perhaps a loyal friend of Kāliya had assumed the form of a forest fire to avenge his friend, or perhaps the forest fire was manifest by a demon who was a follower of Kaṁsa’s.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes a sudden dāvāgni (forest fire) arising and surrounding sleeping Vraja at midnight, setting the stage for Krishna’s protective intervention for His devotees.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of Krishna’s Vraja līlā.
The verse highlights unexpected danger arising even when one feels secure; devotion teaches taking shelter of Krishna, trusting divine protection, and remaining steady when crises “surround from all sides.”