Shloka 11

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

इत्थं विचिन्त्य बद्ध्वा च गाढं परिकरं ततः निपपात ह्रदे तत्र सर्पराजस्य वेगितः

Transliteration

itthaṃ vicintya baddhvā ca gāḍhaṃ parikaraṃ tataḥ nipapāta hrade tatra sarparājasya vegitaḥ

Translation

Thus, having resolved within himself and tightening his girdle firmly, he leapt into that lake—driven by the urgent need to confront the serpent-king there.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• विचिन्त्य: having reflected
• विचिन्त्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकर्म (having reflected)

• बद्ध्वा: having tied
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकर्म (having bound/tied)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक conjunction)

• गाढम्: tight, firmly
• गाढम्: Visheshana of 'परिकरम्' (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परिकरम्: girdle/garment arrangement, fastening
• परिकरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Temporal/Sequential modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (काल/क्रमवाचक adverb)

• निपपात: leapt/fell down
• निपपात: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक adverb)

• सर्पराजस्य: of the serpent-king
• सर्पराजस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + राज (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्पाणां राजा)

• वेगितः: impelled swiftly, with speed
• वेगितः: Karta-visheshana (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वेगेन युक्तः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to protect the Vraja community by subduing the poisonous serpent-king Kāliya and purifying his defiled waters.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of innocent life and restoration of purity to the natural order (waters of the lake).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Sarpa-raja (serpent-king)
• Lake (hrada)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna entering the lake in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse marks the deliberate, purposeful descent into a dangerous space to confront a serpent-king, portraying divine sovereignty restoring order where fear and toxicity prevail.

How does Sage Parāśara explain decisive divine action in such episodes?

Through narrative detail—‘having resolved’ and ‘binding the girdle’—Parāśara emphasizes intentionality: the Lord acts with calm resolve, not compulsion, even when responding swiftly to disorder.

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

Krishna’s leap signifies the Supreme’s lordship over all realms—land and water, humans and nāgas—affirming that the Highest Reality enters history to uphold dharma and protect beings.