Shloka 22
Garuḍa, Saubhari’s Curse, Kāliya’s Refuge, and Kṛṣṇa Saves Vraja from Forest Fire
तत उत्थाय सम्भ्रान्ता दह्यमाना व्रजौकस: । कृष्णं ययुस्ते शरणं मायामनुजमीश्वरम् ॥ २२ ॥
tata utthāya sambhrāntā dahyamānā vrajaukasaḥ kṛṣṇaṁ yayus te śaraṇaṁ māyā-manujam īśvaram
Then the people of Vraja awoke in panic, scorched by the fire, and took shelter of Kṛṣṇa—the Supreme Lord—who by His spiritual potency appeared like an ordinary human being.
The śruti, or Vedic mantras, state, svarūpa-bhūtayā nitya-śaktyā māyākhyayā : “The Lord’s eternal potency named māyā is innate in His original form.” Thus within the eternal spiritual body of the Supreme Lord there is infinite potency, which effortlessly manipulates all existence according to the omniscient desire of the Absolute Truth. The residents of Vṛndāvana took shelter of Kṛṣṇa, thinking, “This blessed boy will certainly be empowered by God to save us.” They remembered the words of the sage Garga Muni, spoken at the birth ceremony of Lord Kṛṣṇa: anena sarva-durgāṇi yūyam añjas tariṣyatha. “By His power you will easily be able to cross over all obstacles.” ( Bhāg. 10.8.16 ) Therefore the residents of Vṛndāvana, who had full faith in Kṛṣṇa, took shelter of the Lord in hopes of being saved from the impending disaster threatened by the forest fire.
FAQs
This verse shows the Vrajavāsīs, overwhelmed by fear and distress, immediately running to Kṛṣṇa as their sole refuge—illustrating that true shelter is direct dependence on the Lord.
In the Kālīya episode they were terrified and internally burning with anxiety, so they sought protection from Kṛṣṇa, recognizing Him as the Supreme Lord even while He appeared human.
When anxiety or crisis arises, respond like the Vrajavāsīs: turn first to sincere prayer, remembrance, and devotional reliance on Kṛṣṇa rather than only to external supports.