Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 33
Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
दमनं कालियस्याहेर्महाहेर्नन्दमोक्षणम् । व्रतचर्या तु कन्यानां यत्र तुष्टोऽच्युतो व्रतै: ॥ ३१ ॥ प्रसादो यज्ञपत्नीभ्यो विप्राणां चानुतापनम् । गोवर्धनोद्धारणं च शक्रस्य सुरभेरथ ॥ ३२ ॥ यज्ञाभिषेक: कृष्णस्य स्त्रीभि: क्रीडा च रात्रिषु । शङ्खचूडस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्वधोऽरिष्टस्य केशिन: ॥ ३३ ॥
damanaṁ kāliyasyāher mahāher nanda-mokṣaṇam vrata-caryā tu kanyānāṁ yatra tuṣṭo ’cyuto vrataiḥ
Elaborately recounted are these lilas: the chastisement of the serpent Kāliya; the rescue of Nanda Mahārāja from a great snake; the young gopīs’ austere vows that pleased Acyuta; His mercy to the wives of the brāhmaṇas and the brāhmaṇas’ remorse; the lifting of Govardhana and the worship and abhiṣeka performed by Indra and Surabhi; His nocturnal pastimes with the gopīs; and the slaying of the foolish demons Śaṅkhacūḍa, Ariṣṭa and Keśī.
FAQs
This verse lists Kṛṣṇa’s nocturnal pastimes with the women of Vraja as a central theme of the Bhagavatam’s narration, presenting them as sacred līlā meant to awaken devotion and divine love.
Sūta Gosvāmī is summarizing major Vraja episodes: Kṛṣṇa protects His devotees and the dharma of Vraja by destroying disruptive, wicked forces represented by these demons.
Remembering Kṛṣṇa’s protection and His loving līlā strengthens faith, helps one resist harmful influences, and encourages steady devotional practice (śravaṇa and kīrtana) even amid Kali-yuga pressures.