Shloka 5

Garuḍa, Saubhari’s Curse, Kāliya’s Refuge, and Kṛṣṇa Saves Vraja from Forest Fire

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा कुपितो राजन् भगवान् भगवत्प्रिय: । विजिघांसुर्महावेग: कालियं समुपाद्रवत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tac chrutvā kupito rājan bhagavān bhagavat-priyaḥ vijighāṁsur mahā-vegaḥ kāliyaṁ samapādravat

Translation

O King, hearing this, the supremely powerful Garuḍa—most dear to the Supreme Lord—became enraged. Desiring to slay Kāliya, he rushed upon the serpent with tremendous speed.

Synonyms

• tat: that (incident/statement)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; sarvanāma (pronoun)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya-kṛdanta; ‘having heard’

• kupitaḥ: angered
• kupitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kupita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √kup/√kupy)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; past participle (क्त) used adjectivally

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhyā (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• bhagavat-priyaḥ: dear to the Lord
• bhagavat-priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (‘of the Lord’ + ‘dear’)

• vijighāṁsuḥ: desiring to kill
• vijighāṁsuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु) + desiderative (सन्) + u (उ)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; desiderative participle (सन्नन्त-उणादि/इच्छार्थक) ‘wishing to kill’

• mahā-vegaḥ: of great speed
• mahā-vegaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्-प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya (‘great’ + ‘speed/impetus’)

• kāliyam: Kāliya (the serpent)
• kāliyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāliya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• samupādravat: rushed upon / attacked
• samupādravat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + upa + ā + drav (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Purport

Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī explains that the word mahā-vega indicates that the great speed of Garuḍa cannot be checked by anyone.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting His devotees?

This verse highlights that the Lord is “bhagavat-priya,” especially dear to His devotees, and He swiftly confronts threats like Kāliya when His devotees are endangered.

Why did Krishna rush toward Kaliya in Canto 10 Chapter 17?

After hearing about the danger and wrongdoing connected with Kāliya, Krishna became angry and, moving with great speed, advanced to punish the serpent and restore safety and dharma.

Practical application of Krishna being 'dear to His devotees' in modern life?

It encourages steadiness in bhakti: when one sincerely takes shelter of God, one gains inner courage and trust that divine protection and justice operate, even amid fear or toxicity.