Shloka 10

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

तद् एतन् नातिदूरस्थं कदम्बम् उरुशाखिनम् अधिरुह्योत्पतिष्यामि ह्रदे ऽस्मिन्न् अनिलाशिनः

Transliteration

tad etan nātidūrasthaṃ kadambam uruśākhinam adhiruhyotpatiṣyāmi hrade 'sminn anilāśinaḥ

Translation

“There—no great distance away—stands that kadamba tree with its wide-spreading branches. Climbing it, I shall leap into this lake, the haunt of the wind-devouring one.”

Word by Word

• तत्: then/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नातिदूरस्थम्: not very far away
• नातिदूरस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न + अति + दूरस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (न-अति = ‘not too’) + विशेषण

• कदम्बम्: kadamba tree
• कदम्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उरुशाखिनम्: having broad branches
• उरुशाखिनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरु + शाखिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उरवः शाखाः यस्य)

• अधिरुह्य: having climbed
• अधिरुह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• उत्पतिष्यामि: I shall leap/jump
• उत्पतिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह्रदे: in the lake
• ह्रदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनिलाशिनः: of the wind-eater (serpent)
• अनिलाशिनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल + अशिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अनिलम् अश्नाति इति/अनिलेन अश्नाति इति)

Speaker

Sri Krishna (addressing the cowherd companions in the Kāliya episode)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The immediate action by which Krishna enters Kāliya’s domain (kadamba ascent and leap).

Teaching: Historical

Quality: vivid

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna prepares to leap from the kadamba tree into Kāliya’s lake to subdue the serpent and purify the waters.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Removal of lethal poison and restoration of safe waters and order in Vraja.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Kadamba tree
• Lake (Yamunā pool/hradā)
• Kāliya (anila-āśin)

FAQs

What is the significance of the kadamba tree in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It functions as the immediate narrative pivot: Krishna identifies the kadamba as the launch point for his deliberate descent into the poisoned lake, signaling controlled divine action rather than human risk.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s intent in this scene?

In Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya, Krishna’s decision to jump into the lake frames the avatāra’s role as the restorer of order—entering danger willingly to neutralize a disruptive, dharma-opposing force.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

The verse emphasizes Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty expressed through Krishna: he confronts the ‘wind-devouring’ menace directly, safeguarding devotees and re-establishing cosmic and social harmony.